MCMC wins High Court order to block harmful content on Telegram, shuts ‘Edisi Siasat’ and ‘Edisi Khas’ channels
PUTRAJAYA, 31 Oct — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has obtained an Erinford injunction from the Kuala Lumpur High Court to prevent the dissemination of harmful content on the Telegram platform, including on the “Edisi Siasat” and “Edisi Khas” channels.
According to national news agency Bernama, the injunction application was filed in relation to civil proceedings against the Telegram platform, pending the hearing of MCMC’s interlocutory appeal at the Court of Appeal.
MCMC said the decision marks an important step in the commission’s ongoing efforts to ensure that Malaysia’s digital ecosystem remains safe, accountable and aligned with public interest.
“Through this decision, the court has granted an Erinford injunction prohibiting the publication of harmful content as outlined in MCMC’s Statement of Claim, including any other content of a similar nature or effect,” MCMC said in a statement today.
The court also ordered the complete shutdown of the “Edisi Siasat” and “Edisi Khas” channels, as well as any other channels with similar content or modus operandi.
The order aims to prevent the spread of false, misleading and inflammatory material that could undermine public confidence in national institutions through the platform.
MCMC further stated that the court, in its ruling, emphasised that public interest outweighs private interest, noting that the balance of convenience clearly favoured MCMC as the potential harm to Telegram was minimal compared to the possible negative impact on national institutions and public order if such content continued to be disseminated.
The court also reminded that foreign platform providers like Telegram, even if they may not fully understand Malaysia’s unique social and cultural fabric, must remain sensitive to and respectful of the country’s constitutional and social context.
