Malaysia to warn TikTok, Meta over alleged blocking of pro-Palestinian content

Fahmi Fadzil said many parties had urged the government to take firm action against social media platforms. (AFP/File)
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Updated 26 October 2023
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Malaysia to warn TikTok, Meta over alleged blocking of pro-Palestinian content

  • Communications minister said Malaysians have a right to freedom of speech regarding the Palestinian cause

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s communications regulator will issue a warning to social media firms Tiktok and Meta for allegedly blocking pro-Palestinian content on their platforms, its communications minister said on Thursday.
“If this issue is ignored, I will not hesitate to take a very firm approach and stance,” Fahmi Fadzil said in a posting on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Without elaborating, Fahmi said many parties had urged the government to take firm action against social media platforms for allegedly restricting pro-Palestinian content.
Representatives of Tiktok and Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Fahmi said Malaysians have a right to freedom of speech regarding the Palestinian cause, adding that right will not be taken away.
The concerns come two weeks after Fahmi said TikTok had not complied fully with Malaysia’s laws and had not done enough to curb defamatory or misleading content. TikTok in a response said it would take proactive measures to address the issues raised.


Bondi Beach attack hero says wanted to protect ‘innocent people’

Updated 29 December 2025
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Bondi Beach attack hero says wanted to protect ‘innocent people’

DUBAI: Bondi Beach shooting hero Ahmed Al Ahmed recalled the moment he ran toward one of the attackers and wrenched his shotgun away, saying the only thing he had in mind was to stop the assailant from “killing more innocent people.” 

Al-Ahmad’s heroism was widely acclaimed in Australia when he tackled and disarmed gunman Sajid Akram who fired at Jewish people attending a Hanukkah event on December 14, killing 15 people and wounding dozens.

“My target was just to take the gun from him, and to stop him from killing a human being’s life and not killing innocent people,” he told CBS News in an interview on Monday.

“I know I saved lots, but I feel sorry for the lost.”

In footage viewed by millions of people, Al Ahmed was seen ducking between parked cars as the shooting unfolded, then wresting a gun from one of the assailants.

He was shot several times in the shoulder as a result and underwent several rounds of surgery.

“I jumped in his back, hit him and … hold him with my right hand and start to say a word like, you know, to warn him, ‘Drop your gun, stop doing what you’re doing’,” Al Ahmed said. 

“I don’t want to see people killed in front of me, I don’t want to see blood, I don’t want to hear his gun, I don’t want to see people screaming and begging, asking for help,” Al Ahmed told the television network.

“That’s my soul asked me to do that, and everything in my heart, and my brain, everything just worked, you know, to manage and to save the people’s life,” he said.

Al Ahmed was at the beach getting a cup of coffee when the shooting occurred.

He is a father of two who emigrated to Australia from Syria in 2007, and works as a fruit seller.  

Local media reported that the Australian government has fast-tracked and granted a number of visas for Al Ahmed’s family following his act of bravery.

“Ahmed has shown the courage and values we want in Australia,” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.

One of the gunmen, Sajid Akram, 50, was shot and killed by police during the attack. An Indian national, he entered Australia on a visa in 1998.

His 24-year-old son Naveed, an Australian-born citizen, remains in custody on charges including terrorism and 15 murders, as well as committing a “terrorist act” and planting a bomb with intent to harm.

(with AFP)