KOTA BARU, June 24 — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will take stern action against the dissemination of slander including on social media, especially during the upcoming state elections.

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said to curb the matter, the ministry had held meetings with social media service providers including Telegram and TikTok.

"We had a meeting with TikTok at the end of last year and the beginning of this year and we just had a meeting with Telegram (on June 19). Alhamdulillah, so far, the cooperation with social media service providers has been very good.

"We also see that there is a need to have a meeting with Meta. Good cooperation between the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), MCMC and social media service providers is very important not only to curb slander but to ensure that it (social media) is not misused,” he told a press conference after the pre-launching of Kelantan-level Madani Community programme at WAWA Hall, Jalan Kelonchor here today.

Also present was Communications and Digital Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa.

Commenting further, Fahmi said the ministry also saw the need to study the amendment to the Communications and Multimedia Act so that the MCMC would have more authority over related issues.

He said the need to amend the act is also to ensure that there is no provocation or slander involving the 3R elements (race, religion, royalty).

"Therefore, we see that there is a need for it to be amended and strengthened. I hope this matter (amendment of the act) can be done by the end of this year so that what happened before does not happen again,” he said. — Bernama