KUALA LUMPUR: Over 1,500 online posts containing racist content have been flagged for removal this year, with more than two-thirds already taken down, as the government steps up efforts to curb hate speech and protect national unity, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said in a parliamentary written reply that between Jan 1 and Nov 30, a total of 1,583 posts were identified, of which 1,066 – or 67% – were removed by service providers in accordance with their community guidelines and local laws.
The minister said the government takes seriously any content involving race, religion, and royalty (3R) that could threaten national unity and harmony.
“The ministry views content that involves racial, religious, or royal sentiment by irresponsible parties as a serious matter, as it could undermine the country’s unity and harmony,” he said.
Fahmi added that MCMC works closely with the police to enforce the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) and other laws such as the Penal Code (Act 574).
Individuals who misuse social media or messaging platforms to create or spread false or offensive content with the intent to harm or harass others may face action under Section 233 of Act 588.
He said that the criteria for content removal are guided by the need to ensure responsible information dissemination, prevent the spread of false information, curb hate speech, and protect the integrity of the monarchy and democratic institutions.
“Requests to remove content are carried out according to existing laws to ensure freedom of speech is not abused, while balancing individual rights with public interest,” he said.
Fahmi called on the public to lodge formal complaints with MCMC through its online portal at https://aduan.mcmc.gov.my or in writing at any of its state offices for review and investigation.
Investigations involving 3R issues are handled by the police, with prosecutions determined by the Attorney General’s Chambers.
The minister was responding to Ganabatirau Veraman (PH–Klang), who asked about steps taken to curb discriminatory content on social media and the number of posts filtered for racist elements this year.
