Kota Bharu: A total of 18,785 pieces of content on various social media platforms that violate the country's laws have been requested by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to be taken down so far this year. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil highlighted that 84 percent of this content was related to online gambling and scams, five percent involved cyberbullying, and four percent were advertisements for prohibited items.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fahmi stated that gambling and scams are the largest category of content that the MCMC has requested to remove. Despite cooperation with social media platforms, these criminal activities persist. Fahmi emphasized the need for licensed social media service providers to impose restrictions on specific content. He shared these remarks with reporters after launching the Online Safety Campaign Roadshow at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK).

The campaign, which aims to raise public awareness about online safety and prevent users from falling victim to online scams and crimes, is an initiative by the Ministry of Communications through MCMC. Kelantan marks the first stop for the roadshow, and the campaign will be expanded nationwide. The initiative includes enforcing the licensing of Internet messaging service providers and social media, amending the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588), and introducing new legislation under the Online Safety Act.

Fahmi also referenced report records from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) indicating that online crime cases increased to 35,368 last year, resulting in a total loss of RM1.5 billion, compared to 34,495 cases in 2023 with a loss of RM1.22 billion. He mentioned that an operation called 'Ops Pedo Bersepadu', conducted by PDRM in collaboration with MCMC, resulted in the arrest of 13 suspects across six states and the seizure of more than 40,000 child sexual abuse materials.