The communications ministry said this effort is being undertaken in collaboration with industry players, mental health advocates, medical practitioners, and the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health.

The guidelines aim to promote responsible content practices that balance the public’s right to information with the need to avoid harm, it said in a written reply on the Parliament website.

It said CMCF is also working with service providers such as Meta in conducting the Creators IRL programme, which aims to equip content creators with knowledge, tools and experience to tackle online threats and produce safe and beneficial content.

The responsible sharing of suicide-related content and the importance of mental health in navigating the online world are part of the CMCF module for this programme.

The ministry was responding to a question by Young Syefura Othman (PH-Bentong) on its plans to collaborate with Meta, Snap, and TikTok, along with the Mental Health Coalition, to form an initiative called Thrive, aimed at curbing suicide and mental health-related content.

It said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is ready to provide cooperation and support for initiatives such as Thrive.

The ministry also said the draft Malaysian Media Council bill has been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for a final review before the Cabinet memorandum on the bill is prepared.

“This bill is expected to be tabled in this parliamentary session, subject to Cabinet approval,” it said in response to a question by Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas).