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Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Malaysia cracks down on online critics amid controversial mobile data tracking project
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian authorities are taking action against online critics of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration, with politicians and members of the public being called in for police questioning in recent weeks, charged or muzzled. This comes amid growing unease over the government's Mobile Phone Data (MPD) project, which collects users' mobile data from telcos, without an opt-out option. Despite government assurances, critics have raised concerns over data privacy and security, fearing the information could be misused for surveillance. Already, there have been moves to silence online critics. Most recently , two channels of messaging service Telegram were bloc ked for allegedly harmful content that violated local laws. Whistleblower watchdog Edisi Siasat (investigation edition), with 1.18 million members, and its companion channel Edisi Khas (special edition), are no longer accessible in Malaysia. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission ( MCMC ) said on June 19 that it obtained a temporary court order against Telegram and two channels on the platform for allegedly disseminating content that violates the country's laws. Malaysia's communications regulator said it sought the court order against Telegram following the platform's 'serious failure to address content that has been repeatedly reported to it'. The nature of the harmful content was not disclosed. The MCMC's latest move echoes its 2015 block on UK-based news blog Sarawak Report over 1MDB-related content. And now, at least half a dozen individuals have been questioned by the police for social media posts critical of government decisions, including the data-collection scheme. 'They (the authorities) have to stop the data collection. Why is there a need for large-scale monitoring?' said Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Pahang Youth chief Wong Siew Mun, whose party is aligned with the Anwar-led unity government. 'This involves public interest and trust. We are trying to foster public discourse on this... We have a role to play in making sure the government is doing the right thing ,' she told The Straits Times, adding that the data-collection project should be tabled in Parliament for debate and scrutiny. Ms Wong was questioned by the police on June 18 over a video she posted on TikTok, in which she questioned whether Malaysia is truly undergoing reform s or slipping into 'dictatorship,' following the government's decision to collect data from telcos without individual s' consent. In its pilot phase, the MPD project is expected to continue until 2026. The government and telcos stress that only 'anonymous' data will be collected – meaning, no names or ID numbers – and that the data is for official use and is protected by strong laws, information leaks can and do happen . But experts warn that even when data is anonymous, it can sometimes be pieced back together to identify individuals. 'No personal data will be shared,' and 'we are not aiming to track the whereabouts of any individual,' MCMC deputy managing director Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin told the media on June 9. The growing scrutiny and pushback against critics comes at a time when the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration is facing growing public discontent, including over the rising cost of living, even as it faces growing tensions within the ruling coalition. All of which appears to contradict his Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition's longstanding commitment to free speech, undermining his reform agenda. In fact, social media censorship in Malaysia surged during Datuk Seri Anwar's first year in power, according to a TikTok report released in mid-2024. Currently , several individuals are being investigated by the authorities , including those questioning political developments within the ruling coalition. Lawmaker and former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli on June 9 highlighted the case of X user Amer Hamzah, whose wife filed a police report after their home was visited by officers from both the MCMC and the police. Besides Mr Amer, Mr Rafizi also identified other social media accounts allegedly targeted for commenting on the recent internal elections of his Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), where Nurul Izzah Anwar, the Prime Minister's daughter, was declared deputy president over Rafizi, who held the post previously. 'The content under investigation merely constitutes personal opinions about the PKR elections and does not violate any law. If it is indeed considered an offence, then it should be addressed through transparent and legitimate procedures, not through tactics that instil fear,' Mr Rafizi said in a statement. The MCMC also summoned social media influencer Aliff Ahmad in April after he posted an offer on Facebook to investigate Ms Nurul Izzah's background using his platform, Scrut Analytica, if the post received 20,000 shares. Meanwhile, online seller Norizan Yahaya, 62, was charged on June 13 with posting offensive content regarding the authorities' investigation into the GISB sect on YouTube in September 2024. He was charged under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to one year, or both. In January, Malaysia introduced a new social media law requiring social media platforms and messaging services with more than eight million users in Malaysia to obtain a licence or face legal action. In pushing for the licensing of social media platforms, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil had said the measure is needed to combat the spread of online crimes, including scams, gambling, and child pornography. The minister has also sought to allay fears among the public over the data-collection scheme. 'The telcos will not be sharing any data containing personal information. Only anonymised data will be (shared), and it will be processed as carefully as possible by the telcos,' he was quoted as saying by the Free Malaysia Today news website on June 8. In addition, the Department of Statistics Malaysia posted on X on June 10 that the data collected would subject to appropriate safeguards. But the skeptics are not buying it. 'There is no such thing as anonymised,' X user Thevesh posted on June 7, adding that such data could be reidentified when combined with other information and thus 'very prone to abuse.' Sensitive behavioural data involving one's health, lifestyle or religious matters could easily be uncovered, noted Woon King Chai, director at Malaysian think-tank Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research. 'A user who connects to a transmitter in Taman Tun Dr Ismail every weekday at 7.20am and another in Putrajaya at 8.45am reveals a consistent home-to-work pattern,' he said, in a post on the Malay Mail's news website on June 17. He also expressed concerns about the growing intolerance of free speech, saying that when individuals who publicly questioned the MPD project are 'subjected to investigations and enforcement action', this fuels fears that the initiative is 'less about planning and more about control'. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Focus Malaysia
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
MCA should treat gutsy Wong Siew Mun as Malaysia's icon of free speech, its ‘poster girl'
PUBLIC perception of MCA as an advocate in championing free speech has skyrocketed of late in tandem with its Pahang Youth chief Wong Siew Mun being summoned to Bukit Aman for disputing a request from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to telcos to collect mobile phone data. For that reason, she was being investigated under Section 505 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998 respectively for allegedly causing public alarm with the circulation of a statement and misusing network facilities. As MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong has pledged to stand firmly with her – and even to provide her with legal assistance – Wong has suddenly found herself endeared to Madani government doubters as a fighter of people's right to freedom of expression. In fact, her courageous action in light of rife speculation of MCA exiting the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has given the grand old party of Malaysian Chinese a glimmer of hope to rejuvenate its 'tarnished-beyond-repair' reputation. Articulate with good command of Bahasa Malaysia, the 35-year-old who lost to DAP's Lee Chin Chen in the Bilut state seat contest during the 15th General Election (GE15) has charmed many pro-opposition voices who have begun to look up to MCA to replace the once firebrand DAP who is now a pale shadow of its former self. Interestingly, Wong whose trip to Bukit Aman on June 18 was featured in a video clip on the Facebook of opposition-slant blogger and political activist Ratu Naga received all-rounded applause for daring to 'tear apart the Madani government'. Berated at DAP, some commenters who are charmed with Wong's educated and professional poise even expect MCA to turn the table on DAP which they still perceive as 'seemingly communist and racist'. Only time will tell if MCA can turn over a new leaf by being the eye, ear, nose and mouth for check and balance – and mostly to fill the void created by the so-called 'fang-less' DAP ever since the latter become part of the Madani establishment. The bottom line is whether such role is more easily executed outside the realm of BN which is now a close ally of the Madani administration. – June 20, 2025
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops quiz Pahang MCA Youth chief over video on mobile data sharing
Pahang MCA Youth chief Wong Siew Mun speaking to reporters after being questioned at Bukit Aman today. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Pahang MCA Youth chief Wong Siew Mun was questioned by police today over a video in which she raised concerns about a request from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to telcos to collect mobile phone data. MCA president Wee Ka Siong said Wong informed him that she had given her statement to Bukit Aman police this afternoon. 'She contacted me at 2pm to inform me that she had just finished giving her statement at Bukit Aman,' he said in a Facebook post. Wee said Wong was accompanied by her lawyer, Kamarudin Ahmad, and was questioned from 11.15am to 1.15pm. 'I was informed that she is being investigated under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Her mobile phone was also confiscated,' he said. The investigation centres on a video in which Wong referenced a South China Morning Post report and questioned the motive behind MCMC's request to mobile network operators to submit user data. MCMC has since clarified that the data collection initiative did not involve the access, processing or disclosure of any personally identifiable information. Commissioner Derek John Fernandez said the mobile phone data would be used strictly to generate official statistics to support evidence-based policymaking in the information and communications technology sector and the tourism sector.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
MCA will fully support Pahang Youth chief, says Dr Wee
PETALING JAYA: MCA will support its Pahang Youth chief Wong Siew Mun with legal assistance, as she is due for questioning by Bukit Aman over the telco data issue, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. 'The Pahang MCA Youth chief is scheduled to be questioned by the police in Bukit Aman regarding a video in which she cited a media report on the Government's directive for telcos to hand over user data,' the MCA president said in a Facebook post Monday (June 16). 'I have assured her that she has the full support of the party, and we will provide all necessary legal assistance." the Ayer Hitam MP said, adding that he was glad to see her in his office on Monday morning, shortly after she was discharged from hospital. ALSO READ: Dr Wee questions probe against MCA youth leader over mobile data criticism Dr Wee lauded Wong for her courage and boldness in speaking the truth and standing up for the people which he said was truly commendable. 'The people deserve to know why the Statistics Department of Malaysia (DOSM) has instructed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to order telcos to hand over the data,' he said. "Wishing you all the best, Siew Mun! Continue to stand with the people and be their voice,' he added. Dr Wee had also previously flagged the Mobile Phone Data collection exercise. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has since explained that the move is to support evidence-based policymaking in two key sectors, namely information and communications technology (ICT) and tourism. MCMC also stressed that the data will be anonymised before submission and that no individual subscriber can be identified.
Free Malaysia Today
21-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
MCA Youth lodges complaint with MACC over MyKiosk project
Beliawanis MCA chief Ivone Low (far left) and Pahang MCA Youth chief Wong Siew Mun (third from right) entered MACC's headquarters in Putrajaya to submit the complaint on the MyKiosk project. Others who waited outside included Selangor MCA Youth chief Tan Jie Sen (second from left). PUTRAJAYA : Selangor MCA Youth has filed a complaint with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) calling for an investigation into the RM250 million MyKiosk project under the housing and local government ministry. Its chief Tan Jie Sen claimed that despite the significant investment, only slightly more than half of the kiosks were being occupied. 'Many local councils have kiosks that are not being used effectively. Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya have over 200 kiosks, but only around 20 are in use. In Puchong Perdana, only four out of 20 kiosks are currently operational. 'We've also received complaints (from traders) that these kiosks have leaky roofs and no electricity, and some are located in non-strategic areas,' he told reporters outside the MACC headquarters here. He asked whether the kiosks, launched under the project's first phase, MyKiosk 1.0, would be properly maintained or upgraded. He also urged the ministry to ensure transparency regarding the MyKiosk project by disclosing all associated costs and agencies, particularly details surrounding the open tender process for acquiring the kiosks. The two representatives who entered the anti-graft agency's headquarters to file the complaint at 11am today were Beliawanis MCA chief Ivone Low and Pahang MCA Youth chief Wong Siew Mun. Pahang MCA Youth was previously reported to have expressed readiness to walk into the MACC office alongside DAP members to assist in the investigation into the MyKiosk project. It had asked why the government was paying RM25,000 to RM34,000 per kiosk when the market price was only RM12,800 per unit. Housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming yesterday responded by saying that the RM25,000 figure was misleading as it included the cost of solar panels, fans, stoves, transportation, installation, and site set-up. Wong, however, said that market research by MCA Youth showed that the cost of the equipment did not justify such a high total, and called for an explanation of the discrepancy. She also criticised Nga's threat of legal action over alleged misinformation about the MyKiosk project, saying freedom of expression was a constitutional right. Nga yesterday said that the local government department had been instructed to track down a TikToker who allegedly spread false information and defamatory videos about the MyKiosk project on social media.
