PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia received a formal invitation to visit the operations of the parent company of the social media platform TikTok in China.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil expressed the government's positive response to the invitation and the anticipation of the upcoming visit, stating that it would provide valuable insights into TikTok and TikTok Shop operations.
"We will discuss the matters that can be done and will look for an immediate visit," he told reporters after the launch of the 5th Asean-China Media Week held at Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) today.
Previously, Fahmi mentioned that Malaysia had been closely monitoring the Indonesian government's decision to ban e-commerce transactions on TikTok, a move aimed at safeguarding small businesses.
He emphasised the need to consider appropriate measures in Malaysia, considering the Indonesian ban's objectives.
Offline sellers in Indonesia saw their livelihoods threatened by the sale of cheaper products on TikTok Shop and other platforms.
Fahmi also said the government was looking to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chinese government to boost its bilateral relations further.
The proposed MoU focuses on content creation co-production and aims to serve as a platform for attracting Chinese tourists to Malaysia.
He cited a similar MoU in the telecommunications sector between the two nations and suggested that other areas, including cybersecurity, could be explored in the new agreement.
"This is a significant step, especially considering that next year marks the 50th anniversary of our bilateral relations with China.
"The following year, Malaysia will host and chair Asean," Fahmi added.
The 5th Asean-China Media Week is a continuation of the Asean-China Year of Media Exchange, which was introduced and organised in China in 2019.
This event is designed to promote cultural exchange and cooperation in media and broadcasting, involving relevant organisations.
The event saw the participation of Yang Xiaowei, Vice Minister of the People's Republic of China National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), and Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching.