8-9-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has stood firm on its contentious directive to reroute web traffic through local domain name system (DNS) servers, insisting the measure is designed to safeguard users from harmful online content. The plan, set to take effect on 30th September, has sparked a heated debate about digital freedom and censorship in the Southeast Asian nation.
Under the new directive, Malaysian internet service providers (ISPs) will be required to redirect user requests from third-party DNS servers, such as those operated by Google or Cloudflare, to their own local servers. This move has raised alarm bells among digital rights advocates and even some members of the ruling coalition, who fear it could stifle online freedom and potentially harm Malaysia’s burgeoning digital economy.
In a statement released late Saturday, the MCMC sought to allay these concerns, asserting that the measure is far from “draconian”. The regulator emphasised that the primary aim is to protect vulnerable groups from a range of malicious online content, including gambling sites, pornography, copyright infringements, phishing attempts, and financial scams.
“DNS redirection ensures that harmful websites are blocked while legitimate websites remain reachable without noticeable disruption,” the MCMC stated. The commission also revealed that it had blocked 24,277 websites between 2018 and 1st August 2024 in the interest of user safety.
However, the reassurances have done little to quell the growing unease among critics. Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad, a state assemblyman from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s People’s Justice Party, has lambasted the plan as “draconian”. He warned that it could have a detrimental impact on Malaysia’s digital economy, which has recently attracted substantial investments from tech giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, and Google.
Lim Yi Wei, an assemblywoman from the Democratic Action Party, another member of the ruling coalition, expressed concerns about potential cybersecurity risks. She highlighted the danger of DNS poisoning, where hackers could potentially redirect web traffic, and argued that the plan amounts to censorship.
The controversy comes at a time of increased scrutiny of online content under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration. Despite campaigning on a progressive platform before his election in 2022, Anwar’s government has faced criticism for what some perceive as a tightening grip on digital freedoms.
Last month, an Asian industry group representing major tech firms including Meta, Google, and X (formerly Twitter) urged Malaysia to reconsider its plan to license social media platforms. The group cited a lack of clarity surrounding the proposed regulations as a primary concern.
