KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been assigned responsibility to prevent the technical exploitation of telecommunications technology for terrorism, says the Communications Ministry.
The Ministry said that the commission currently monitors the sale of communication equipment in both open and online markets through several monitoring programmes.
These include the Market Surveillance Programme, Communication Equipment Information Collection Programme, and Online Platform Communication Equipment Monitoring Programme.
All communication equipment, including pagers and walkie-talkies, must be certified as specified under the Communications and Multimedia (Technical Standards) Regulations 2000.
Under this certification, all equipment must display the mark or label approved by the MCMC or a registered agency.
“This certification ensures equipment complies with technical codes or standards enforced by the MCMC, covering electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, interoperability, and radio frequency usage.
“Any modification to equipment may result in the cancellation of certification,” the ministry said in a parliamentary written reply on Wednesday (Dec 11).
It added that any imported equipment requires a Certificate of Approval (COA) to ensure compliance under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023.
The MCMC then said that it has registered the Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (Sirim) QAS International Sdn Bhd as the agency to conduct certification activities and issue COAs.
“However, it is important to understand that the MCMC's certification focuses on technical aspects such as electrical safety, radio frequency usage, and compliance with related codes and standards.
“Other broader physical safety aspects, including the misuse and modification of equipment for terrorist purposes, fall outside MCMC's control and involve other agencies,” it said.
The ministry was responding to a question from Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik) on steps taken to prevent the exploitation of telecommunications technology for terrorism, as seen in the recent explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies in Lebanon.
