KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Tech firms should adjust to native legal guidelines to proceed working in Malaysia, a minister stated on Tuesday, after an trade group urged the federal government to pause a plan to require social media platforms to use for a regulatory licence.

The Asia Web Coalition (AIC) – whose members embody Google (NASDAQ:), Meta (NASDAQ:) and X – had made the decision in an open letter to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, citing an absence of readability over the proposed laws.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated the federal government was prepared to debate the proposed laws with the AIC and different trade teams however had no plans to delay their implementation, geared toward tackling rising cybercrime.

Beneath the plan, social media platforms and messaging providers with greater than eight million customers could be required to acquire a licence and will face authorized motion in the event that they failed to take action by Jan. 1, 2025.

“Big tech companies are big but our laws are bigger. If they want to operate in Malaysia, they must respect and comply with our laws,” Fahmi informed reporters, including earlier talks with representatives of social media companies on the plan had been constructive.

The AIC letter, initially dated Aug. 23, was taken down from its web site late on Monday. Journey-hailing agency Seize, additionally a member of the group, stated individually on the identical day that it had not been consulted on the letter’s contents.

A brand new model of the letter, dated Aug. 26, was later posted to AIC’s web site with a number of sentences eliminated, together with a reference to the federal government’s plan being “unworkable” for the trade.

The letter additionally eliminated a listing of the AIC’s member firms, which stays obtainable on the group’s web site.

In an announcement on Tuesday, Malaysia’s communications regulator stated it might conduct a public inquiry and was looking for suggestions on the regulation from trade gamers and the general public.

In its letter, the AIC had stated an absence of formal public consultations had led to trade uncertainty and considerations over potential unintended penalties from the regulatory license.