Government will not block social networking sites

The Government does not wish to restrict social networking site Facebook, and platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp and others because most Malaysians use these facilities for a variety of purposes, including communicating and carrying out entrepreneurial activities.

The ministry, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has always been committed and cooperated with law enforcement agencies in dealing with the abuse of social media.

"The MCMC also monitors and, if there is any content that is in conflict with the law, appropriate enforcement action will be taken," according to the ministry in a written reply at the Dewan Rakyat Thursday.

It was a reply to a question by Datuk Zainuddin Ismail (BN-Jelebu) who wanted to know whether the ministry planned to block social media sites such as Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp and others, and replace them with local social networking websites as was done in China.

For the period January to September this year, the Commission had blocked 1,263 websites, with 632 websites based on the application of local law enforcement agencies, while 631 websites were blocked for offences under Act 588 (Communications and Multimedia Act 1998).

In the meantime, from January to September this year, 1,368 complaints regarding the misuse of social media had been received.

Meanwhile, according to the ministry controversial blogger Alvin Tan is being investigated by te Malaysian police under Subsection 5 (1) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 and the Sedition Act 1948.