OVER 65,000 scam and illegal online gambling content remain online despite takedown requests by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said today.
He said the figure was part of more than one million takedown requests submitted to online platforms between Jan 1, 2025 and Aug 31 this year.
Of these, 935,416 pieces of content were removed, representing a 93 per cent compliance rate among the platforms.
The removals included 592,695 pieces of gambling-related content and more than 227,486 related to scams.
“However, 65,280 pieces of content were not removed following MCMC requests.
“That figure is important because although the compliance rate is relatively high, tens of thousands of potentially harmful pieces of content remain accessible to users,” he said in his opening address at the inaugural M360 ASEAN 2026 in Kuala Lumpur today.
On the online sale of drugs, Fahmi said authorities faced challenges in detecting prohibited products because sellers often used terms that did not directly refer to the actual name or nature of the products.
“Sometimes the way a prohibited item is displayed on their platform may not use certain words. So they try to play around with terminology.
“For example, in the issue of illegal drug sales, fentanyl for use in vapes. Sometimes they use different words, but users may recognise them and be able to purchase them,” he said.
Fahmi said sellers also avoided using scientific names or explicitly stating that the products being offered were drugs.
He said the issue had been detected most frequently on one particular platform, although monitoring would continue to ensure prohibited goods, including drugs, were not sold through e-commerce platforms.
He said the operator of the platform had been called for discussions on Monday, although he had yet to receive a briefing on the outcome.
“Malaysia’s position is firm. We will not budge. They need to be more proactive, not merely remove (content),” he said.
Separately, the minister said Malaysia has reaffirmed its push for a trusted and inclusive digital ASEAN, highlighting the region’s potential to build a digital economy worth up to US$2 trillion by 2030 following the conclusion of negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
Fahmi said ASEAN must translate stronger connectivity into greater digital capabilities, confidence and regional economic strength.
“Malaysia’s direction is clear: to turn connectivity into capability, capability into confidence, and national progress into regional strength,” he said.
Fahmi said the conclusion of DEFA negotiations in May marked a significant opportunity for ASEAN, with effective implementation expected to unlock substantial growth across the region’s digital economy.
The two-day event, held on Sept 9 and 10, brings together government leaders, regulators and industry stakeholders to strengthen regional cooperation on connectivity, innovation and digital trust.
Organised by the GSMA and endorsed by the Ministry of Communications, M360 ASEAN 2026 is hosted by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) under the theme “Trusted Digital Integration Powering ASEAN’s Connected Future”.
Malaysia is also using the platform to showcase its progress in strengthening digital infrastructure, online safety and future-ready skills.
Under the JENDELA initiative, internet coverage in populated areas reached 99.75 per cent as at July 31, 2026, while the Online Safety Act 2025 has strengthened platform accountability and safeguards for users.
At the regional level, the ASEAN 5G Skills Framework and Capacity Development Platform, led by MCMC through MCMC Academy, is supporting digital skills development across all 11 ASEAN member states.
The initiative was recently recognised as a Winner Project at the WSIS Prizes 2026.
As Host Partner, MCMC is contributing Malaysia’s regulatory and industry experience to M360 ASEAN while drawing on expertise and perspectives from governments, regulators and industry players across the region.
The Ministry of Communications and MCMC said Malaysia would continue supporting regional cooperation aimed at strengthening connectivity, building digital trust and enabling responsible innovation as ASEAN advances towards a more integrated digital future. - September 10, 2026
