Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has issued the Child Protection Code (CPC) and Risk Mitigation Code (RMC) under the Online Safety Act 2025 to regulate online safety, including scams and online gambling content [1, 2, 3].
On August 5, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil announced social media platforms have expressed readiness to comply with the new codes but need time to implement internal mechanisms for automatic removal of flagged content [1, 3]. "We are giving the platforms some time. They have indicated their willingness to comply, but they require some time to align their internal mechanisms to automate the removal of content that has been identified," he said [1].
The number of takedown requests issued by MCMC for scam and online gambling content has already exceeded last year’s total. Each removal currently takes about 30 minutes of staff time, which strains resources [1, 2, 3]. Fahmi described much of the illegal content as repetitive, saying, "Much of the online gambling and scam content on these platforms is repeated. It uses almost the same images, videos and wording. That is why I described it as a waste of MCMC's time, because the content is nearly identical." [2]
The repetition of scam and gambling posts highlights the need for automation in the takedown process to improve efficiency [2]. Meanwhile, the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health (NCEMH) under the Ministry of Health was urged to intensify its engagement with social media platforms to address content related to suicidal behavior, following a Cabinet note on a roundtable organised by the Communications and Media Committee Foundation (CMCF) and NCEMH on the same day [1, 3].
The Malaysian government will continue to monitor progress as social media companies align their systems with the CPC and RMC rules. The move aims to reduce scams and illegal gambling content online while addressing mental health concerns linked to harmful content.
