Fahmi Fadzil advises users to appeal on social media content mistakenly removed by MCMC

KUALA LUMPUR: Make an appeal if you feel your social media content was taken down by mistake, says Fahmi Fadzil.

The Communications and Digital Minister said removed content did not primarily revolve around 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues, but also content deemed inappropriate based on the Communications and Multimedia Act.

“Whoever finds their content affected by this can appeal to the MCMC and also social media platform operators,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Nov 9).

Fahmi said MCMC and social media platform operators would then study the content, and possibly reinstate the post.

“There is no issue. You can make an appeal,” he added.

Citing the example of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s speech at the Himpunan Malaysia Bersama Palestine gathering on Oct 24, Fahmi said some contents of Anwar’s speech uploaded to TikTok were removed by the platform.

“We asked TikTok officials why and they said there were graphic images uploaded. But when MCMC and myself watched the video, it did not have any graphic images. We referred this back to TikTok, and the content could be reuploaded,” said Fahmi.

Fahmi was responding to a supplementary question by Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) during Minister Question Time on Thursday.

Ahmad Fadhli had claimed there was interference by MCMC towards social media content that did not contain 3R elements, citing how a post linking PKR to Liberal International was taken down.

He also claimed that the user found it was a legal request by MCMC.

“This is proof that MCMC is being used by parties in the government. Fight facts with facts and not by blocking the content altogether,” he said.

Ahmad Fadhli also raised the issue of Harakahdaily’s reporters' media passes allegedly being revoked.

To this, Fahmi said he was made to understand that the PAS organ would appeal the decision, adding that it would be discussed with the Information Department.

“I want to stress that this is about journalism ethics. This not only applies to Harakah but all,” he said.

On a statement by veteran journalists disapproving of any attempt to use state apparatus like the MCMC to question, censor or block portals and online news content, Fahmi said he is open to criticism.

“Perhaps in previous times, action would be taken against the said journalists. But today, they are still free to air their views and we accept their views and criticism,” he said.

This was in response to another supplementary question by Ahmad Fadhli on media freedom.

Separately, Fahmi said any efforts to amend the Communications and Multimedia Act had to be done holistically.

“The Act was drafted in 1998, which coincidentally is during the birth of the Reformasi movement.

“Any amendments must be done holistically,” he said, adding that a priority amendment would be towards resolving internet issues.

“As for now however, we haven’t decided on the next course of action.

"We will accept everyone’s views before we proceed,” he said when responding to Azli Yusoft (PH-Shah Alam).