The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has issued 77 compounds throughout the first quarter of 2021. While the figure is rather high, these compounds have actually been handed to only four organisations.
On top of the list is Maxis who was slapped with 67 compounds and have had to fork out RM 3.25 million for breaching the Communications and Multimedia (Numbering) Regulations 2016. The telco also has to pay an additional RM 50,000 for not adhering to the prepaid registration procedures.
Seven compounds have also been issued to U Mobile for the same offence which has cost the telco RM 350,000. The commission has also handed compounds to TV3 (listed in the announcement as Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad) and Bernama for violating Section 206 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998.
Both broadcasters have been slapped with one compound each which collectively cost them RM 60,000. This is rather interesting because not only does the commission not issue compounds to broadcasters that often, but there is also the fact that Section 206 was the section that landed Al-Jazeera and Astro in hot waters last year.
However, Section 206 of CMA 1998 is rather generic in nature. Since MCMC didn’t provide additional details regarding the offences made by TV3 and Bernama, it is not known what really caused MCMC to issue the RM 60,000 compounds to them.
(Source: MCMC. Main Image: MCMC.)
