Fahmi: TikTok to meet Communications and Digital Ministry, MCMC next week

SHAH ALAM: A discussion involving the Communications and Digital Ministry, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and TikTok will be held next week, says Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil (pic).

He said it was being scheduled following his meeting with the social platform’s top management led by TikTok global vice president Helena Lersch on Wednesday (Oct 12) after finding the platform’s compliance with Malaysia’s laws was still unsatisfactory and needed to be rectified immediately.

“…we also touched on TikTok Shop and I have requested additional information from TikTok Shop which will be examined by the Ministry in these coming weeks,” he told reporters here on Thursday (Oct 12).

Fahmi said the situation in Malaysia was different from Indonesia, which had banned e-commerce transactions on TikTok, adding that the government must consider several factors before making any further decisions.

“I have requested some information from TikTok Shop to fully understand the situation including matters mentioned by President Jokowi such as predatory pricing, data sharing and data sovereignty.

“We have conveyed it to TikTok Shop and they will provide feedback. We will examine this feedback and will act afterwards, if necessary,” he said.

On Budget 2024 which would be tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday (Oct 13), Fahmi said he believed that several issues such as the cost of living and food security will be the focus of this budget.

“For the Ministry, we hope there will be good news regarding 5G which we have been working on, such as special packages that can help more people to benefit from the technology.

“I was told that there will be several announcements…we wait for some good news then,” he added. – BK