KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has dismissed claims that Malaysia is required to abolish the broadcasting licence condition mandating 80 per cent local content as part of a trade agreement with the United States.
In a statement today, MCMC said the allegation, made by a former editor-in-chief, was false, misleading, and did not reflect the current broadcasting licensing framework in the country.
“Under the Content Application Service Provider Individual (CASP) licence, or individual broadcasting licence issued under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA 1998), there is no 80 per cent local content quota imposed on private broadcasters in Malaysia.
“The existing licence allows broadcasters the discretion to determine their content in accordance with the guidelines and standards set by MCMC,” it added.
MCMC said that licences under the CMA 1998 did not prohibit the airing of international content during prime time.
Content scheduling is determined by broadcasters based on market demand while complying with established content regulations.
“The government is currently developing the National Broadcasting Policy (DPN), which seeks to ensure the sustainability of the national broadcasting ecosystem, promote the production of quality local content, and establish transparent and fair governance for public, private, and international broadcasting platforms,” the statement said.
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