2025 MARKS PROGRESS IN MEDIA INDUSTRY, ONLINE SAFETY AND INTERNET COVERAGE

By Rozainah Abdul Rahim and Aisha Hani Nor Azmir

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian media industry marked a significant milestone this year with the passing of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Bill 2024 by the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 26 and its approval by the Dewan Negara on March 19.

This represented a key achievement for the industry after the proposal to establish the council had been under discussion since 1973, among others to safeguard media freedom and ensure the public receives accurate, credible and fair information.

On July 15, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil handed over letters of appointment to six of the 12 founding board members of the MMC, who were selected based on their expertise, experience and contributions in journalism, media, academia and communications.

On Nov 4, MMC interim chairman C. Premesh said in a statement that the government had allocated about RM120,000 this year to fund membership development, the first general meeting and related activities.

Premesh also said operating funds totalling RM4 million for the MMC office, secretariat and activities are expected to be received in the first quarter of 2026 following approval of the Communications Ministry’s budget tabled in Parliament.

On Nov 7, a total of 12 individuals were elected to the MMC board at its inaugural annual general meeting. They represented three categories: media companies; journalists and media associations; and public and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The year 2025 also marked a new chapter in the government’s efforts to ensure safer social media platforms in Malaysia, with the Application Service Provider Class Licence or ASP (C) for social media platform providers officially coming into force in January.

The licensing move under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) was designed to enhance online safety, protect users and strengthen regulation of internet messaging and social media service providers.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), on July 27 2024, mandated that all social media and internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia must secure the licence, and failure to comply by the enforcement date constitutes an offence under Act 588 and may result in legal action.

Meanwhile, the government’s mission to ensure a safe and sustainable internet ecosystem for users in the country was reflected through amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act, which came into force on Feb 11, 2025.

The amendments introduced several key reforms to address online crimes such as paedophilia, scams and online gambling, while strengthening protection for children and users.

They provide for heavier penalties, including a maximum prison sentence of five years, a fine of up to RM500,000, or both, for offences involving children under the age of 18.

Key changes in Section 211 include replacing the words "offensive content" with "indecent content, etc”.

The scope of the amendments also covered Section 233 to prevent the misuse of networks and application content services, including for commercial purposes such as the sale of pornographic and paedophilic content.

Various initiatives were also implemented throughout the year, including through the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI), which provides internet access, digital skills training, online services and digital literacy for all segments of society, including those in rural areas and schools.

The programme also plays a role in promoting safe internet usage practices and supporting various campaigns such as the Safe Internet Campaign organised by the MCMC.

The NADI Digital Inclusive Project also made history when it was named winner of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prize in the C4: Capacity Building category through the Pulau Banggi NADI Initiative.

The award was received by Fahmi at an official ceremony held in conjunction with WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva on July 7.

To enhance connectivity, Phase 2 of the National Digital Network Plan (JENDELA) was also launched, with a target of achieving high-speed access and 5G coverage of up to 98 per cent in populated areas.

-- BERNAMA