KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 — Nearly 100,000 online scam content items have been taken down from social media platforms in the first seven months of this year, surpassing the total for the whole of last year.
Communications Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching said that as of July 31, approximately 99,693 scam-related content items had been removed from social media platforms, compared to 98,503 throughout 2025, a clear sign that online safety demands continued attention.
"By comparison, 63,652 content were removed in 2024, followed by 6,297 in 2023 and 242 in 2022. This shows that online safety is an area that requires full focus and attention," she said during the winding-up debate on the Communications and Multimedia (Amendment) Bill 2026 in the Dewan Negara today.
The Bill was later passed by a majority voice vote after being debated by 15 senators.
The amendments introduce, among other things, a National Universal Service Provision (NUSP) initiative to safeguard national security, while also providing clearer legal grounding for the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to support its implementation.
Teo added that the amendments empower the minister to direct MCMC to support initiatives related to the use of network services or applications to implement the NUSP initiative.
Any party affected by MCMC's decisions or directives may file an appeal to the Appeals Tribunal established under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
The tribunal is chaired by a High Court judge, and parties dissatisfied with its decision may bring the matter to court for judicial review.
During the debate, Senator Datuk Seri Prof Noor Inayah Ya'akub said that determinations regarding national security must be based on clear criteria and parameters to ensure every ministry decision is transparent and accountable.
Meanwhile, Senator Sheikh 'Umar Bagharib Ali, described the communications sector as a strategic national infrastructure that underpins digital economic development and public safety.
"When the people are confident that power is exercised fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law, they will become strategic partners with the government in safeguarding national security," he said.
The Bill, which was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on July 15, contains two clauses and, among other things, amends Section 202 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to provide clearer legal grounds for the MCMC to support the implementation of the NUSP initiative.
