KUALA LUMPUR – The Communications Ministry is open to discussing with the Home Ministry about the regulations of streaming platforms, but more focused on reviewing the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said any discussion will have to consider matters of online safety, but assured that there would still be room for such meetings.
“We are ready to discuss with them, God-willing. We have not set a time, and as of right now, there is no specific time frame in place.
“As far as the ministry is concerned, we are very much focused on reviewing the Communications and Multimedia Act.
“Any other discussion, I believe we have to assess in light of not only the efforts to amend the act, but also to attend to something very serious – online safety,” he said at his ministry’s weekly press conference at Angkasapuri today.
Yesterday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said his ministry was open to working with the Communications Ministry on regulating streaming platforms under the Film Censorship Board.
He expressed willingness, as cinemas, advertisements for the general public, and television, fall under the Film Censorship Act 2002.
Speaking at the Dewan Rakyat, Saifuddin said such platforms, which include Netflix, are under the purview of the Communications and Multimedia Act.
His response came after Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari urged the ministry to address streaming platforms that screen movies with elements of Islamophobia and LGBTQ. – March 22, 2024