Navin: A fair and transparent framework to safeguard audiences and protect freedom.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s media and advertising industries play a vital role in shaping the economy, supporting nation-building efforts, and fostering a safe digital ecosystem.
However, an unlevel playing field between licensed, regulated entities and unlicensed, unregulated digital platforms has created challenges that threaten these objectives.
Digital platforms, such as social media and instant messaging services, operate within the same content and advertising spaces but are not subject to local governance frameworks.
Furthermore, these platforms often enjoy significant financial advantages, such as reduced tax obligations and fewer compliance costs, giving them an outsized edge over local players. This lack of regulatory parity not only distorts competition but also impacts the broader societal and economic fabric.
Mediha: Forthcoming framework a welcome step towards addressing disparities.
The Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (Content Forum) chief executive officer (CEO) Mediha Mahmood said from an economic perspective, ensuring all players abide by the same rules fosters healthy competition, drives innovation and encourages investments in quality content creation.
Traditional media companies and advertisers that invest heavily in compliance, quality control, and ethical standards deserve a level of fairness to compete effectively, she said.
Moreover, she said local businesses contribute significantly to national revenue through taxes, while unregulated global platforms often escape similar contributions, reducing their economic accountability.
Equally important is the battle against harmful content. Without effective oversight, unregulated platforms may promote the proliferation of inappropriate advertisements, fake news, and harmful material, including content targeting vulnerable groups such as children.
Ensuring a fair and consistent governance structure can mitigate these risks, holding these platforms accountable for their financial and social impact and protect Malaysian audiences by promoting a safer and sustainable digital environment, the Content Forum noted.
Mediha said Malaysia’s forthcoming governance framework for regulating digital platforms, set to take effect soon, marks a welcome step towards addressing these disparities.
It reflects a commitment to ensuring that all players – regardless of platform – are held to fair and transparent regulations, a crucial move for creating an industry that meaningfully contributes to the nation’s economy, societal growth, and digital safety, she said.
“As the government builds essential frameworks, the Content Forum is dedicated to supporting these efforts through self-regulation, involving industry stakeholders and consumers alike.
“We encourage digital platforms to collaborate in these initiatives, as their involvement helps align our content policies with international best practices, ensures compliance with Malaysia’s laws, and upholds the unique needs of our community,” Mediha said.
Meanwhile, Claudian Navin Stanislaus, president of the Malaysian Advertisers Association and vice-chairman of the Content Forum, draws attention to the need for a uniform set of standards that are practical and applicable, to safeguard Malaysian audiences.
A fair, transparent, and enforceable regulatory framework is essential to safeguarding Malaysian audiences, fostering trust, and maintaining a competitive marketplace that empowers businesses while protecting freedoms, he said.
“For regulations to succeed, actions must match intent – be transparent, thoughtful,and resistant to misinterpretation, or misuse! Practicality must take precedence over optics, unenforceable regulations create a false sense of security.
“Above all else, protection should never be an excuse to compromise freedoms. Instead, it must drive responsibility and equity, empowering creators and businesses to innovate while safeguarding audiences.
“Effective regulation should inspire progress, not stifle it, shaping a content ecosystem that benefits all while upholding fairness and freedom,” Navin said.
Star Media Group Bhd chief business Officer Lydia Wang
Star Media Group Bhd chief business officer Lydia Wang, underscores the need for parity in ethical marketing principles.
“The advertising industry is built on a foundation of ethical marketing principles that foster long-term relationships between brands and consumers.
“Licensed players invest in adhering to robust regulations, ensuring transparency and accountability.
“However, unregulated platforms operate without the same level of oversight, creating an uneven playing field.
“For a truly competitive and responsible advertising ecosystem, it’s essential that all platforms, digital or traditional, are held to the same standards of ethical conduct and accountability,” Wang said.
Astro group chief executive officer Euan Smith
Euan Smith, Group CEO of Astro, highlights the wider impact of unregulated platforms, including issues of piracy.
He said as a responsible broadcaster, Astro works diligently to comply with Malaysian laws, delivering quality news, sports and entertainment content to audiences.
However, he said unlicensed players, including those who facilitate piracy, operate outside these frameworks.
“Digital platforms that steal news and other content not only erode revenues from legitimate players but also compromise consumer trust, often exposing them to harmful, unverified content that can mislead or damage their safety and security.
“It’s imperative that we address these gaps to ensure a safe and sustainable industry for all,” he noted.
Afdlin Shauki: Regulations is essential for protecting public trust and safety.
Datuk Afdlin Shauki Aksan, chairman of the Film Directors Association of Malaysia highlights that ensuring consistent regulations across all media platforms is essential for protecting public trust and safety.
He said a fair and regulated media landscape is not just an industry concern, but a societal imperative.
When some platforms operate without proper oversight, it undermines the standards that filmmakers work hard to uphold and exposes the public to harmful or misleading content, he said.
“For the growth of the industry and a more informed society, it’s essential that all media platforms adhere to the same standards. This ensures that the content we consume, from films to digital media, is trustworthy, safe, and of the highest quality,” Afdlin Shauki added.
The Content Forum is an industry forum registered under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and designated by the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to oversee and promote self-regulation of content over the electronic networked medium.
It consists of key players in the content industry, i.e., advertisers, advertising agencies, broadcasters, content creators and distributors, audiotext hosting service providers, advertising agencies, internet service providers, and civic groups.
