THE Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been given until the end of the year to develop 10 subsidiary instruments vital to the effective enforcement of the Online Safety Act (ONSA) 2024.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, however, urged the commission to accelerate the process, stating that these instruments—covering procedures, administration, and online harm classification mechanisms—should ideally be completed within the next few months.
“I’ve requested that the timeline be brought forward, not just by year-end but preferably sooner. The ONSA has already come into force in July,” he told reporters following the ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya today.
“For the Act to function properly, it needs these 10 instruments in place. This is our focus now. Most importantly, we want to create a safer online environment and minimise harm,” he said.
Also present at the event were the ministry’s Secretary-General Datuk Seri Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and Bernama Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.
Fahmi said online crimes, including deepfake technology misuse, remain rampant.
“For example, the image of Professor Jomo Kwame Sundaram, a respected economist, was recently misused on Facebook, even though the account had no affiliation with him,” he noted.
He added that once instruments such as the Online Safety Code are formalised, social media platforms would be legally obligated to restrict content involving impersonation or deepfake manipulation.
Earlier in his speech, the Minister said the public expects the government to act against platforms that facilitate cyber fraud and exploitation.
“I’ve asked MCMC’s legal team to speed up this process. The Minister of Law, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, has already sent me a letter urging for the rapid implementation of ONSA,” he said.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching previously stated that the 10 subsidiary instruments—comprising rules and codes under the Act—were identified and are expected to be completed between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026, depending on their complexity and readiness. - August 25, 2025
