PUTRAJAYA cannot instruct streaming services such Netflix to stop airing content related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities as they are located overseas, Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa said.

“Over-the-top (OTT) streaming services such as Netflix are located outside the country. As such, we have no force of law over them,” the Ketereh MP told Parliament during the question-and-answer session today.

The minister was responding to Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (Dungun-PN), who asked the government to state the measures to curb LGBT-related content in programmes that are available on online streaming services such as Netflix. 

Annuar said that OTT streaming services such as Netflix had their own control measures. 

“Netflix rates its content for consumers and also has parental control options.  

“But in the end, we have to do self-monitoring as the government does not have the tools to control them,” said Annuar. 

In a supplementary question, Wan Hassan asked if the government will reduce the number of streaming services since the Communications and Multimedia Act was enacted in 1998 before the rise of streaming services. 

“The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission can engage with the provider if there is content that is deemed inappropriate in Malaysia. 

“But for the government, we only have advocacy programmes to help consumers choose properly.  

“Admittedly there are gaming and gambling sites that are against our culture and affect our sensitivities. But we can only control the platforms that are registered here,” said Annuar. – November 30, 2021.