More questions followed the government's defence of three companies that were granted vehicle inspection licences despite their lack of relevant experience.

The prime minister says he had a good discussion on the matter with Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary and that the situation should not be politicised.

Celcom Axiata Bhd, DiGi Telecommunications, Maxis Bhd and U Mobile also want a review of the pricing model and network access plan offered by Digital Nasional Bhd, according to the May 9 letter.

Meituan has been under fire since market regulators launched an investigation into the group in April, with particular scrutiny paid to the working conditions of its millions of delivery drivers.

Reducing Facebook's economic power and overseeing its moderation policy are the two main issues for US elected officials keen on technology regulation.

The Korean law will offer users a choice of app payment providers, allowing them to bypass charges set by the store owner.

In recent months, Beijing has been clamping down on the country's internet giants for wielding too much power.

Alibaba has accepted the penalty and pledged to outline plans for bringing its operations in compliance.

Alibaba alone boasts nearly 900 million mobile monthly active users – more than half of China's population.

It could force changes in business practices or break off segments of the Google empire.