Senai: A total of 398 pieces of content related to issues involving religion, royalty, and race (3R) have been taken down by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as of April this year. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching revealed this action in response to 750 complaints received requesting the removal of sensitive 3R-related content between January and April this year. A total of 8,540 pieces of 3R-related content have been removed from 2022 until April this year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the number of complaints received has been on the rise each year. In 2022, 175 pieces of content were removed, escalating to 1,633 in 2023, 4,830 in 2024, and slightly decreasing to 1,504 last year. For this year, 750 requests have been submitted to platform owners, and so far 398 have been taken down. These figures are as of April 30, as stated by Teo during a TikTok Shop Content Creator Education workshop at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Senai.
Most cases involving 3R-related content are investigated by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) based on an understanding between the agency and MCMC. MCMC acts as a technical partner, providing expert support to assist the police in identifying individuals behind the accounts involved. The decision on whether a case is brought to court or action is taken under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA) is subject to the consideration of the Attorney General’s Chambers.
Teo also advised the public, particularly the younger generation, to create content that conveys positive messages and avoids touching on sensitive issues. She emphasized that not all content needs to be sensational or provocative to gain attention. Content creators like ‘Abang Minyak Hitam Jalanan’ and Dicky, who recently went viral, were recognized as Sahabat Perpaduan MADANI by the National Unity Ministry, demonstrating that positive messages can also attract widespread attention.
She further mentioned that the TikTok Shop Content Creator Education Workshop, organized by MCMC in collaboration with TikTok Shop, aims to empower digital literacy and ethical content creation. The initiative helps participants enhance their digital skills, learn online business strategies, and strengthen income-generating potential through the TikTok Shop platform. So far, 19 locations in Johor have been identified for the workshop, which is offered in various languages, including Malay, Tamil, and Mandarin.