PUTRAJAYA: Meta's platforms WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram are expected to receive their operating licences in the country soon.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said, as of Tuesday, Meta has submitted several follow-up documents to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
"As of 5pm yesterday, WeChat, TikTok and Telegram have received licences (to operate in Malaysia) while Meta (will) very soon and I expect the process to go smoothly and in an orderly manner.
"The remaining two (platforms), Google which operates YouTube, and X (formerly known as Twitter), are still in discussions with MCMC," the government spokesman said at his weekly post-cabinet meeting press briefing.
Regarding YouTube, Fahmi said it denies being classified as a social media platform, despite its sub-application, Shorts, bearing similarities to TikTok.
He said YouTube Shorts includes social media features such as sharing and commenting.
"That is why I have asked MCMC to continue discussions, and we will give it a little more time.
"For example, if YouTube can clarify how many users are using the Shorts application, and if they plan, in the nearest future, to spin off Shorts into a separate application.
"Some of this involves technical aspects, but certainly, some aspects also involve planning for these platforms, including Google and YouTube specifically," he said.
He said if there was any content or material in the platform that violates the law, the platforms can still be contacted for action to be taken.
"For example, every day we review complaints received from the public regarding online gambling advertisements posted on YouTube.
"When informed, YouTube takes action, even though they have not been licensed yet, but in terms of some matters, they are still cooperating," he said.
On LinkedIn, Fahmi said he has asked MCMC to check whether the platform has over eight million users in Malaysia.
As for X, he said it has denied having more than eight million users, and MCMC will need additional time to verify this claim.