Teo said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission would present requests for the removal of specific content to Facebook, TikTok, X and other platforms if it received a complaint.

“However, ultimately, they (the platform providers) make their own decisions,” she told the Dewan Rakyat.

“If content is removed, it indicates that the platform provider concurs with the government’s assessment. At the same time, there have been instances where our requests were rejected.”

Teo was responding to a supplementary question from Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar) who raised concerns about a growing censorship of social media content critical of the government.

Syed Saddiq also asked if this was a new government strategy, given the surge in social media content related to government criticism from 96 in 2022 to over 4,000 in 2023.

He cited recent examples, such as a TikTok video by Putrajaya MP Radzi Jidin criticising the ringgit’s depreciation, which was removed after reaching two million views, and TV Pertiwi’s video advocating the abolition of pensions.

“When (the government) can no longer bear public criticism regarding the weak ringgit, the escalating cost of living and unfulfilled promises… they resort to using their power to silence the people,” he said.

“The same government that once championed freedom of speech is now blocking everything.”

Teo replied that the increase in content removal in recent years was related to fake news and false content.

She added that platform providers were multinational companies that would not take orders from any government and would make their own judgements based on their community guidelines.

“YB Muar, as an influencer with such a large following on TikTok, should be aware of this issue,” she said.