'Most dictatorial ever': Ambiga joins condemnation of plan for 'kill switch', social media licensing

The government's latest attempt to control internet content has been met with condemnation as it continues to push for the licensing of social media platforms with plans for a "kill switch" that would allow the authorities to shut them down at any time. 

Prominent lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan, who was once one of Pakatan Harapan's (PH) staunchest supporters, launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's coalition government, saying it was now "the most dictatorial government we have ever had".

"I never thought I would see the day when a PH-led government which ran on the platform of fighting for the abolishment of the PPPA would instead keep it and impose new licensing laws," said the former chairman of electoral reforms coalition Bersih, referring to the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 which PH leaders had long fought to abolish.

Anwar himself defended the move, vowing to push through with it despite protests.

"The government is introducing new social media rules and regulations that, while potentially unpopular, are crucial for countering the spread of criminal and harmful information, thereby creating a safer environment for users," he said.

Putrajaya recently announced that it would shut down social media platforms that had yet to apply for a licence before Jan 1, 2025.

The government will also introduce a social media "kill switch" that will allow it to shut down access to platforms, similar to how governments in China, Egypt, Iran and India have shut down internet connections in the past to stop opposition views.

Critics said the move was designed to force popular internet platforms such as Facebook and TikTok, and even messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, to comply with government demands and delete content or risk losing their licence.

This follows statistics placing Malaysia at the top of a list of governments that have asked TikTok to remove content over the past year, as well as the country’s steep fall in the annual World Press Freedom Index.

The communications ministry under Fahmi Fadzil was also responsible for a series of internet blocks of news portals and political commentary sites which carried views seen as uncomplimentary to Anwar.

'This will kill off democracy'

Several prominent political commentators whose TikTok accounts were blocked said the government would soon be able to block content and live streams through the use of the "kill switch".

"With a kill switch, they could simply 'switch off' any broadcast during an election campaign if the government is not happy with live broadcasts that are in favour of the opposition or disagree with the government," said Aidil Yunus, a popular political commentator known as YB Viral.

He was among those whose content was subjected to blocks and take-down requests from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

"This is very dangerous and will kill off democracy," he told MalaysiaNow.

He said the latest move also showed the government's failure to counter criticism despite some 2,000 propaganda groups to promote its views.

In May, Fahmi announced an annual grant of RM10,000 for each of the 1,878 "Komuniti Madani" groups spread across the country.

"Despite spending so much, the government is still unable to combat criticism from its critics.

"So it seems that the best the government can do is to put a complete stop to the speeches on social media."

Another political commentator whose TikTok accounts were removed multiple times upon request from the government described the authorities as being more interested in meddling with people's social media accounts than tackling illegal activities such as online gambling and pornography.

Na'im Brundage said social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube had always refused the government's requests to delete content in line with their free speech policies.

He said the government was now hoping to force them to delete posts through licensing.

"Once this social media licensing comes into effect, these platforms will have the choice of adhering to their principles or ceasing their operations in the country," he said.

"Either way, it will ultimately harm the people and create an unfair and undemocratic political playing field."

Na'im also reminded the government of previous attempts to stop information at the height of the 1MDB scandal.

In 2015, the home ministry, under current Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, suspended the printing licences of two newspapers published by The Edge Media Group over its coverage of the 1MDB scandal.