King receives Federal Government briefing amid national and digital safety matters

LocalPolitics
30 Mar 2026 • 12:55 PM MYT
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HIS Majesty Sulan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, was formally presented with updates on the administration of the Federal Government and current national matters during a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Istana Bukit Tunku on Monday.

According to a statement posted on Sultan Ibrahim’s official Facebook page, the audience provided an overview of recent developments in federal administration while also covering a range of pressing national issues.

“Seri Paduka Baginda was presented with the latest developments regarding the administration of the Federal Government and discussed current issues,” the statement said.

The meeting coincided with the ongoing presentation of the Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA), a legislative initiative aimed at enhancing internet safety for Malaysian families and children.

The act, enforced from January 1, introduces mandatory age verification to prevent children under 16 from creating social media accounts and establishes explicit responsibilities for online platforms.

“The implementation of ONSA aims to make the internet safer for families and children, through the establishment of clear responsibilities for online platforms. It also serves to enforce age verification mechanisms to restrict children under 16 from opening social media accounts, protecting both children and families,” Sultan Ibrahim’s post added.

Minister of Communications Datuk Fahmi Fadzil highlighted to His Majesty that ONSA also addresses the issue of fake accounts targeting Malaysia’s royalty, including the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and other members of the royal household, in a statement Fahmi shared via his official Facebook account.

The legislation obliges licensed service providers to mitigate online harms according to assessed risk levels, implement child-specific safeguards, and maintain accessible reporting and user support mechanisms.

ONSA applies to service providers holding an Application Service Provider (ASP) licence, a Content Application Service Provider (CASP) licence, or a Network Service Provider (NSP) licence under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

By mandating platform accountability and formalising protective measures, ONSA represents a significant step toward a safer digital environment in Malaysia, particularly for the nation’s younger internet users, reinforcing the government’s commitment to child and family safety in the online sphere. - March 30, 2026