Fahmi: Three more Asean countries keen to join Malaysia-led children’s online safety push

Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil answers questions from the media during the Safe Internet Campaign programme at Multimedia University (MMU) in Melaka on November 1, 2026. — Bernama pic

First Published: Sunday, 01 Nov 2026 6:50 PM MYT

MELAKA, Nov 1 — Thailand, Brunei and Cambodia are the latest Asean countries to have expressed interest in joining Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore in efforts to address online safety issues involving children.

Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said he welcomed the development, describing it as a sign that Asean was moving in the same direction.

“In discussions with my counterparts from Indonesia and Singapore, we were already on the same page on this matter. So, this is even better as Southeast Asia will now move in the same direction because we will be stronger when we stand united, especially in dealing with major social media platforms.

“We believe this will help considerably, particularly as these platforms view the region as a single market. So, if the entire or majority of the Southeast Asian market starts speaking about the same issues, then it will be easier,” he said.

Fahmi was speaking at a press conference after attending the Safe Internet Campaign Programme at Multimedia University (MMU), Melaka Campus in Bukit Beruang here today.

Also present was Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah.

Elaborating on the joint efforts to address children’s online safety issues, Fahmi said Malaysia was also drawing lessons from the way certain restrictions had been implemented in other countries, such as Australia.

“We are also following and taking note of several recent cases in the US, in New Mexico, and this is very helpful in enabling us to take action or plan our next steps,” he said.

Fahmi was previously reported as saying that Malaysia and Indonesia had agreed to establish inter-agency cooperation at the implementation level to address children’s online safety issues, with plans also underway to involve Singapore.

On the Safe Internet Campaign, Fahmi said the programme had so far reached schools throughout Malaysia, with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) continuing to enhance its content from time to time. — Bernama