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☆ Malaysia Cabinet Discusses Najib Pardon Bid, but Won't Announce Outcome - Minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

It will be at the discretion of the Pardons Board to announce its decision, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said at a press conference on immigration and labour issues, which was packed with media seeking news on Najib's clemency bid. Najib requested a royal pardon shortly after beginning his sentence in 2022 and after exhausting all other appeals. Najib's lawyer and representatives, as well as Malaysia's attorney-general, a member of the pardons board, did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. "Let us not jump the gun, let us wait for an official statement to be made," Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said at a separate press briefing. U.S. and Malaysian investigators estimate around $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, with more than $1 billion channeled to accounts linked to Najib.

Persons: Danial Azhar, Najib Razak, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Najib, Prime Minister's Department Zaliha Mustafa, Najib's, Fahmi Fadzil, Jho Low, Nooryana Najwa Najib, pensively, Martin Petty Organizations: Reuters, 1Malaysia Development, Prime Minister's Department, Communications, Saudi Locations: KUALA LUMPUR

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Organizers of Wednesday's Coldplay concert in Malaysia can stop the show if the British rock band misbehaves, a minister said as the government rejected Muslim conservatives' calls to cancel the show. Led by the country's opposition bloc, Muslim conservatives have protested the concert over Coldplay’s support for the LGBTQ+ community. Communication and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said he doesn't foresee any problem with Coldplay's first concert in Malaysia later in the night. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has justified allowing the Coldplay concert, telling Parliament on Tuesday that “Coldplay is actually among the bands that support Palestine." Anwar said pro-Palestinian groups also approached his office in support of the Coldplay concert.

Persons: Wednesday's, Fahmi Fadzil, Coldplay's, ” Fahmi, Anwar Ibrahim, Coldplay, Anwar, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, ”, ” Coldplay, Chris Martin Organizations: —, Wednesday's Coldplay, Digital, Malaysia, British, Coldplay, Islamic, PAS, Live, Police, Coldplay's, Protesters Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, British, Israel, Kuala Lumpur, “, Palestine, Indonesia

☆ Malaysia to warn TikTok, Meta over alleged blocking of pro-Palestinian content
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Meta Platforms Inc FollowTikTok FollowKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Malaysia's communications regulator will issue a warning to social media firms Tiktok and Meta (META.O) for allegedly blocking pro-Palestinian content on their platforms, its communications minister said on Thursday. Without elaborating, Fahmi said many parties had urged the government to take firm action against social media platforms for allegedly restricting pro-Palestinian content. Representatives of Tiktok and Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The concerns come two weeks after Fahmi said TikTok had not complied fully with Malaysia's laws and had not done enough to curb defamatory or misleading content.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Fahmi Fadzil, Fahmi, Meta, TikTok, Danial Azhar, Martin Petty Organizations: REUTERS, Tiktok, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR

☆ TikTok to take proactive steps to address issues in Malaysia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TikTok app logo is seen in this illustration taken, August 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Short video app TikTok is committed to taking proactive measures to address issues raised by Malaysia, a spokesperson said, after its government said the app was not fully compliant with local laws. "TikTok respects local laws and regulations and is committed to taking proactive measures to address the issues raised," a spokesperson for the company said in an email on Thursday. TikTok has organised meetings with Malaysia's communications regulator next week to demonstrate its commitment, the spokesperson added. In a social media message posted after meeting TikTok representatives, Fahmi said TikTok also should address issues related to content distribution and advertising purchases following complaints from businesses, the public and media agencies.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, TikTok, Fahmi Fadzil, Fahmi, Danial Azhar, Martin Petty, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Facebook, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Southeast Asia

☆ Malaysia says TikTok fails to fully comply with local laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Printed TikTok logos are seen in this illustration taken February 15, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 (Reuters) - TikTok has not done enough to curb defamatory or misleading content in Malaysia, the communications minister said on Thursday, adding that the short video application had also failed to comply with several, unspecified local laws. In a social media message posted after meeting TikTok representatives, Minister Fahmi Fadzil said TikTok also had to address issues related to content distribution and advertising purchases following complaints. He said TikTok had assured him it would cooperate with the government and that its shortcomings were due to not having a representative in Malaysia at present. A spokesperson for TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the meeting or the minister's remarks.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Fahmi Fadzil, TikTok, Fahmi, Anwar Ibrahim's, Danial Azhar, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Malaysian, Facebook, Meta, Communications, Multimedia, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Vietnam

Malaysia's opposition bloc includes Islamist party PAS, which promotes a strict interpretation of sharia law and opposes LGBTQ rights. Another PAS leader urged the government to cancel a concert by Coldplay because the band supports queer rights. DISCRIMINATION, THREATSAnwar vowed this year that Malaysia would never recognise LGBTQ rights. His government has banned books for "promoting the LGBT lifestyle", detained demonstrators expressing support for queer rights and confiscated Pride-themed watches made by Swiss watchmaker Swatch. Asked about the government's position on LGBTQ rights, government spokesperson and communications minister Fahmi Fadzil told Reuters: "Whatever the prime minister has said is the position."

Persons: Carmen Rose, Hasnoor Hussain, Rose, Anwar Ibrahim's, Anwar, Anwar doesn't, James Chin, Rezki Rohaizad, Malaysia's, Fahmi Fadzil, Thilaga Sulathireh, Sulathireh, I'm, Rozanna Latiff, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, PAS, Coldplay, University of Tasmania, Swatch, Reuters, Sisters, Thomson Locations: Malaysian, Singapore, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, KUALA LUMPUR, Australia, Swiss

☆ Malaysia reverses plan to take legal action against Meta over harmful content
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Reuters) - Malaysia may not go through with a plan to take legal action against Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META.O) following "positive" engagement with the firm on tackling harmful content on the social media platform, communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said in an interview on Friday. "I don't think MCMC needs at this point in time to initiate any legal action. I think this level of cooperation is very positive," he said, adding that the government was considering measures such as fines against social media platforms if they failed to tackle harmful content. Facebook is Malaysia's biggest social media platform, with an estimated 60% of the country's 33 million people having a registered account. The take-downs, he said, were likely to have been made in response to complaints made by ordinary users for violating social media guidelines.

Persons: Fahmi Fadzil, Fahmi, Meta, Anwar Ibrahim's, Rozanna Latiff, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Facebook, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Meta, Malaysian, Digital Nasional Berhad, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Malay

☆ Malaysia halts music festival after same-sex kiss by UK band The 1975
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The 1975 have also been banned from performing in Malaysia, said a government committee that oversees filming and performances by foreigners. "I don't see the fucking point ... of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with." Festival organiser Future Sound Asia apologised for the cancellation of the show following Healy's "controversial conduct and remarks". Communications Minister Fahmi said Malaysia was committed to supporting the development of creative industries and freedom of expression. The Jakarta festival's organisers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether the band would play.

Persons: disparages, Fahmi Fadzil, Healy, Ross MacDonald, we've, Regrettably, Fahmi, Matt Healy, Carmen Rose, Anwar Ibrahim's, Rozanna Latiff, Bernadette Christina, William Mallard, Robert Birsel Organizations: Communications, Rights, United Arab Emirates, Sound, Twitter, Malay, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysian, Jakarta, Indonesia

☆ Malaysia issues license to Musk's Starlink to bring internet services to remote areas
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 (Reuters) - Malaysia has issued a license to Starlink, the satellite communications service started by Elon Musk, to provide internet services in the country, particularly in remote areas, its communications minister said on Thursday. Minister Fahmi Fadzil said in a Facebook post that Starlink, which is operated by Musk's SpaceX, would begin by providing its services to schools and higher education institutions. The government was also prepared to work with satellite communications firms, including Starlink, to ensure 100 percent internet coverage in populated areas, Fahmi said. Around three percent of populated areas in Malaysia face issues with internet access, due to geographical and infrastructure challenges, he added. The government earlier this year announced that his electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla (TSLA.O) would open an office in Malaysia.

Persons: Elon Musk, Fahmi Fadzil, Fahmi, Anwar Ibrahim, Tesla, Rozanna Latiff, Hasnoor Hussain, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Elon, Musk's SpaceX, Malaysian, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia has now decided to allow a second entity after DNB's coverage reaches 80% of populated areas, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said in a statement. The government's announcement confirmed a report by Reuters last month on a plan to introduce a second 5G network from January 2024. A recommendation by major carriers for a second 5G provider was rejected by the previous government in March last year. It has said a single network would reduce costs, improve efficiency and accelerate the building of infrastructure. It was not clear how the proposal for a second 5G network would affect DNB's existing agreements with its development partner, Swedish telecoms giant Ericsson (ERICb.ST), and other mobile operators.

KUALA LUMPUR/SINGAPORE, April 16 (Reuters) - Malaysia plans to introduce a second 5G network from next year, four sources told Reuters, in the latest policy shake-up aimed at dismantling monopolies and promoting competition by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's six-month-old administration. A recommendation by major carriers for a second 5G provider was rejected by the previous government in March last year. Fahmi also said last week 5G network coverage had reached 55% in populated areas. It was not clear how the proposal for a second 5G network would affect DNB's existing agreements with its development partner Swedish telecoms giant Ericsson (ERICb.ST), and other mobile operators. U Mobile later joined other telco firms in signing up to access DNB's 5G network.

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