KULAI: Social media and messaging platforms must set up a company in Malaysia as a condition to get a Class Licence for applications service providers, says Teo Nie Ching.
The Deputy Communications Minister also said they have a grace period until Jan 1 to apply for a licence and comply with all the requirements, which included having a locally-incorporated company.
“All the (relevant) companies have been made aware of this gazettement (of licensing requirements), and they know that they are not exempted.
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“They now have about five months to prepare for and meet all the requirements," she told reporters after a student aid handover ceremony at SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra here on Sunday (Aug 4).
Teo added that Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil recently met with the service providers in Singapore to discuss the matter.
“The Ministry is always open to discussions with them, and ready to provide them with explanations on any issues.
"So far, all the service providers have given their cooperation,” she added.
On July 27, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced that all social media and internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia must apply for a Class Licence under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
This regulation will take effect on Jan 1 following the introduction of a new regulatory framework for social media services on Thursday (Aug 1).
On the removal of a ocial media post by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Teo said the Ministry is still waiting for an explanation from Meta Platforms Inc (Meta).
“The Ministry has met with the company representative in Singapore but was told that they did not make the decision (to remove the post), so we are still waiting for their reply.
“I think this is absurd because that is the official social media of our Prime Minister, and the post was about him conveying his condolences,” she said.
Earlier, Bernama reported that Anwar had issued a stern reminder to Meta not to become a tool of the Zionist Israeli regime.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, the Prime Minister condemned Meta's actions as disrespectful and insulting to the struggle of the Palestinian people for removing videos, messages of condolences and criticisms regarding the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh.
Anwar said it was unreasonable to consider posts honouring a fighter striving to liberate his homeland from oppression and suffering as dangerous.
"My stern reminder to Meta, do not be cowardly and a tool of the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime!" he said.
A check on the Prime Minister's Instagram account revealed that three of his posts from the previous day, which condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and shared pictures of meetings with the Hamas leader, had been removed from the social media platform.
The removal of these posts was accompanied by the caption "Dangerous individuals and organisations".
