From January 2022 to July 31 this year, Malaysian service providers removed a total of 83,511 posts—80,657 on TikTok and 2,854 on Telegram—following requests from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
The Communications Ministry clarified that the takedowns involved content deemed obscene, indecent, false, threatening, or highly offensive, in violation of Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).
“The actions were not politically motivated but carried out strictly under existing laws, regardless of the creator’s political stance or background,” the ministry said in a written parliamentary reply on August 25.
The issue was raised by Tanah Merah MP Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz, who inquired about how many TikTok and Telegram accounts had been suspended for criticizing the government.
The ministry emphasized that each removal request is submitted to the platform providers, who then review and act according to their community guidelines.
“Every takedown is conducted under existing laws to prevent misuse of freedom of expression, while balancing individual rights and public interest for overall societal well-being,” the statement added.
