Need For Social Media Council In Malaysia - Minister

SHAH ALAM (Selangor, Malaysia), July 12 (Bernama) -- A social media council needs to be set up in the country to discuss various issues and aspects relating to the law and usage of the media. Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said the social media had not only become the latest trend but a necessity to the Malaysian community. In this regard, he said, it was appropriate that the council be set up with the involvement of social media practitioners so that it could become a medium for the discussion of relevant issues. "Through the council, they can think on and delve into issues on our community, security and legal obligations including giving education to school and university students," he told reporters after delivering his keynote address at the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC)-Universiti Teknologi Mara International Conference, here Wednesday. Rais said there were about 12 million users of the social media such as the Facebook from various age groups in the country. Commenting further, the minister said the council could also play a role in ensuring that the contents of the social media in the country reflected an industry that used local content instead of merely depending on other countries. "Furthermore, through the media, we will know how important it is to understand that what is wrong in terms of the law in the normal world is also wrong in the cyber world. "It is in this context that the social media council should be debated and if there is a (favourable) response from the community, it can be set up," he said. Citing the establishment of the social media council in countries such as the United States and Britain, Rais said the people of these countries had the opportunity to discuss, lodge complaints and receive protection from the council. -- BERNAMA