Malaysia’s Islamic authority boosts digital monitoring with MCMC to swiftly remove online content declared haram, targeting platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) is intensifying its collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to monitor and block deviant teaching content on digital platforms.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Rosli said the move involves using provisions under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to allow content to be removed swiftly.

She stated that intensive monitoring covers platforms including Facebook, Threads and WhatsApp to prevent the spread of beliefs that distort the faith. Action is taken only against content declared ‘haram’ by religious authorities.

“Jakim is constantly monitoring the trend of deviant teachings, which has been increasingly detected online in line with technological development,” she said in parliament today.

She was responding to a question from Datuk Azman Nasrudin regarding steps to address the spread of heretical and dubious teachings on platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

Commenting on heretical teachings hidden in motivational content, Marhamah said the government is taking proactive steps by enhancing the digital skills of religious enforcement officers.

She added that Jakim cadre officers at MCMC have received enhanced training to keep them up to date with digital evolution, including the potential applications of Artificial Intelligence.

 The Sun Malaysia