KUALA LUMPUR (March 19): The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is refining a proposal to require social media platforms and internet messaging services providers to register for a licence and is in the process of finalising the licensing framework.

Deputy Minister of Communication Teo Nie Ching said that the move aims to enhance online safety and address content that violates national laws.

"It is in line with current global approaches and developments and is not intended to restrict media freedom," Teo said in response to Datuk Shamshulkahar Mohd Deli (BN-Jempol) during the question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.

Teo added that licensing will also improve consumer protection, shielding users from online fraud and harmful content, while ensuring a safe and reliable online environment.

In response to supplementary questions from Shamshulkahar, Teo denied claims that the government issues directives to social media providers for the removal of critical content from their platforms.

She reiterated that social media providers would make their own judgments based on their community guidelines after receiving a complaint.

"From January 1 until March 1 this year, 14% of the complaints filed by MCMC to social media platform providers to remove the content have been rejected, as the platform providers did not think that it goes against their community guidelines.

"This has shown that the decision to remove content on the social media platform providers is not solely in MCMC's hands," Teo said.

She added that out of the 86% of content that platform providers agreed to remove after MCMC filed a request, the majority were related to gambling, scamming, and fake news.