Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said the code of conduct is a set of guidelines that social media platform providers must follow, such as being responsive to any complaints from users.

He said the code of conduct will be published once it is finalised by the end of this year. All social media platform providers with more than eight million users in Malaysia would be required to register with the government by Jan 1.

“There is no two-way discussion on this matter,” he told reporters after launching the National Information Dissemination Centre here.

“If they meet the set requirements, they are obliged to register.”

He said failure to register within the specified period will result in serious consequences, including the possibility of fines.

Most social media platform providers have cooperated by providing feedback.

“Only one or two platforms that think they are bigger than a sovereign nation (are uncooperative), but we need to remind them that they make money in Malaysia, so they are obligated to comply with our country’s laws,” he said.

Fahmi also said all social media platform providers must respect the Malaysian government’s stance by not blocking any pro-Palestinian content.

Even Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s post on Instagram was taken down simply because he expressed condolences over the death of a Hamas leader.

“The government’s stance, as well as the prime minister’s position, must be respected by these platforms,” Fahmi said, as Malaysia has diplomatic relations with all countries, including the Palestinian authority.