Latest news with #CommunicationsMinister


South China Morning Post
31-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Malaysian parents back social media curbs for children to limit ‘brain rot'
Malaysian parents welcomed a plan to bar children from having social media accounts, but were less enthused by a proposal to push state-sanctioned family content to curb consumption of damaging online material. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil on Tuesday warned parents against an overreliance on mobile devices to serve as 'digital nannies' to keep their children occupied, saying he had personally come across children who had their own TikTok accounts despite being below the minimum age limit of 13 set by social media platforms. The government said it was studying the possibility of enforcing a ban on children below the age of 13 from having social media accounts to protect them from harmful content such as 'brain rot' – repetitive short-form entertainment that has been blamed for behavioural changes in young people. The plan could also include increasing the volume of locally produced family-friendly content approved by the government, and digital literacy modules for children aged 13 and older to help them navigate the deluge of information available online, Fahmi told parliament. Malaysia's Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil has warned parents against an overreliance on mobile devices to serve as 'digital nannies' to keep their children occupied. Photo: AFP Parents who spoke to This Week in Asia said barring young children from having their own social media accounts was a good move, but argued that it was still a struggle to keep tabs on their children's digital consumption habits.


Free Malaysia Today
30-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
13MP crucial amid uncertain times, says Fahmi
Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil cautioned against treating AI systems as if they possess human-like decision-making power, calling it a dangerous misconception that could undermine human agency. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said the tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) is a 'critical milestone' in charting the country's development amid global uncertainty and rapid technological change. Speaking at the International Connectivity Conference 2025 here today, Fahmi said the 13MP, to be tabled by the prime minister tomorrow, will shape Malaysia's response to emerging challenges, particularly in the digital and connectivity sectors. 'The 13MP is built on the Madani economic framework, guided by the principle of raising the ceiling and raising the floor. 'The aim is to grow both national income and the people's income, with a focus on high value-added industries and strengthening downstream sectors. 'You can't talk about planning the future without thinking about connectivity. We are living in a time and an age where connectivity is ubiquitous, and you have an entire new generation born into what we now call the digital age,' he said. Separately, Fahmi said Malaysia's digital progress must go hand-in-hand with ethical responsibility, adding that technology must always be used in ways that serve humanity. He said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum communications and direct-to-cell satellite connectivity present many possibilities, but also raise questions around ethics. He cautioned against treating AI systems as if they possess human-like decision-making power, calling it a dangerous misconception that could undermine human agency. Fahmi also announced that Malaysia is set to launch its first large language model – an AI model trained on massive amounts of text data to understand, generate and manipulate human language – at the Asean AI Summit this year, a move aimed at enhancing national control over AI development and ensuring responsible use of technology.


Malay Mail
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Malaysia, Indonesia to restart annual talks on July 29 after seven-year pause, says Fahmi
PUTRAJAYA, July 2 — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today said that Malaysia and Indonesia are set to resume their annual consultations on July 29, following a meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta last Friday. He said the consultation process is traditionally seen as an important platform for both countries' leaders to exchange views and set the strategic direction of bilateral cooperation. 'Prime Minister Anwar and his delegation are expected to return to Jakarta on July 29 for the consultation session, as well as related events involving the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta. 'Several long-standing issues that have been under discussion for some time will be brought to the table,' he said during the ministry's weekly press conference here. Among the matters likely to be raised is the Ambalat maritime boundary dispute, which has remained unresolved for over two to three decades. Fahmi noted that while it is not a new issue, it is expected to be part of the upcoming discussions. 'As the prime minister has noted, there are many factors to consider, including complex technical aspects. 'Therefore, the consultation at the end of July is anticipated to serve as a starting point,' he said. He added that the last Malaysia-Indonesia annual consultation was held in 2017.


Malay Mail
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Fahmi: Malaysians in Iran set to evacuate by June 20, all visas arranged
PUTRAJAYA, June 18 — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today said the evacuation of Malaysians from Iran is under way, with all necessary arrangements already in place. He said the Malaysians involved are expected to leave the Middle Eastern country by June 20. 'The number of Malaysians in Iran, including those working, studying, or travelling, is relatively small. The evacuation process is ongoing, with all required visas arranged,' he said during the ministry's weekly press conference here. On Friday, Israel launched multiple strikes on Iranian territory, reportedly killing several senior military officers and scientists. In retaliation, Iran fired ballistic missiles at various locations in Israel, resulting in several deaths and injuries.

Malay Mail
10-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Be mindful when sharing content on UPSI crash, Fahmi tells social media users
SINTOK, June 10 — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has urged content creators and social media users to exercise caution and uphold proper etiquette, when sharing or producing content related to the tragic accident which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students in Gerik, Perak, early yesterday morning. He said that this reminder was to protect the privacy and emotions of the victims' families. 'I urge everyone to give the families of the victims as much space and privacy as possible. I came across a piece of content made by an individual at the scene of the incident, and inside the bus. 'Although the message is a message of condolence, for me it is an accident area which is under investigation by the authorities, so be careful in producing content,' he said at a press conference, here, today. Earlier, Fahmi delivered a keynote address at the forum titled 'Suara, Siber dan Sempadan: Merungkai Dinamika Kebebasan Media dalam Era Digital' forum at Universiti Utara Malaysia, here. According to Fahmi, the incident is expected to be one of the topics discussed at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow. 'Matters such as this will be discussed during the Cabinet meeting. However, we will first await the official report from the authorities. Based on the findings, we will determine the necessary course of action, including any enforcement measures which may be required. 'Anyway, we are currently awaiting the Cabinet meeting for the latest updates. Insya-Allah, a press conference will be held after the meeting, which I will personally oversee,' he said. Yesterday's tragic incident involved a chartered bus carrying UPSI students from Jertih, Terengganu, to their campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak. The bus overturned following a collision at KM53 of the East-West Highway, near Tasik Banding, Gerik, claiming the lives of 15 students. The accident also left 33 others injured, including the bus driver, his assistant, and three passengers of the Perodua Alza. — Bernama