MORE than 117,000 pieces of harmful online content have been removed from digital platforms following requests by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) over the past four years, reflecting the government's stepped-up efforts to tackle cyberbullying, defamation and misinformation.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the removals between Jan 1, 2022 and Sept 15, 2026 comprised 60,632 bullying-related items, 55,895 pieces of false content and 1,277 defamatory posts.
He said cooperation between MCMC and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) involved coordinating content removals and website blocking, technical assistance, information sharing and digital forensic analysis.
The government had also strengthened its regulatory framework through amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and enforcement of the Online Safety Act 2025 from Jan 1 this year.
"Enforcement against offences involving defamation and cyberbullying also involves PDRM under the Penal Code, while MCMC takes regulatory action against the dissemination of harmful online content within its jurisdiction," he said in a written parliamentary reply published on Parliament's official website.
He was responding to Muhammad Ismi Mat Taib (PN-Parit), who asked about measures to prevent harmful social media content, including defamation, cyberbullying and the spread of false information.
Fahmi said the government had also established a special committee involving relevant ministries and agencies to coordinate cyberbullying prevention and enforcement.
To counter misinformation, MCMC's Sebenarnya.my portal had published 1,211 fact-checking articles during the period, while its Artificial Intelligence Fact-check Assistant (AIFA), introduced on Jan 28, 2025, had processed 242,706 messages as at Sept 15.
The Safe Internet Campaign, launched in January 2025, had also reached more than 2.8 million participants as at Sept 30 through programmes in schools, higher education institutions and communities nationwide.
Fahmi said the campaign sought to improve digital literacy and promote awareness of cyberbullying, misinformation and responsible social media use.
He said the government's approach took into account the need to protect online users while respecting freedom of expression under the Federal Constitution and prevailing laws. - November 4, 2026
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