A video on the TikTok platform with content warning about Chinese communist influence in Malaysia has been censored for viewers in the Southeast Asian country.
Malaysia-based users of the China-owned video platform reported they were unable to access the viral video of a March 25 press conference by former Foreign Minister Rais Yatim announcing he filed a police report alleging communist activity by a Malaysian nonprofit organization.
The Epoch Times confirmed reports by Malaysians who discovered that while the video of Yatim’s comments was not accessible in the country, it was visible through a VPN connection or with IP addresses outside of Malaysia.
Yatim, in a seven-minute video statement, said that he had lodged a police report against the Malaysian One China Peaceful Unification Promotion Association, raising concerns about the group promoting communist ideology in Malaysia through its activities, which is illegal. Communism is explicitly prohibited in Malaysia, where it is considered a threat to its national security and sovereignty.
Communism was banned in response to the Malayan Emergency of 1948–1960, when communist insurgents waged a guerrilla war against the government. The ideology has since been associated with violence, foreign influence, and political instability in Malaysia’s history.
The complaint involves Malaysia’s Penal Code that relates to the promotion of ideologies deemed harmful or illegal and its Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which regulates the dissemination of content online.
Yatim also questioned the group’s legal status in the country under the Societies Act 1966, as under Malaysian law, groups of seven or more people sharing a common interest need to register with the Registrar of Societies to operate.
The group is now under police investigation, with Inspector-General of the Police Razarudin Husain vowing a thorough investigation to act against any revival of communism threatening Malaysia’s sovereignty, according to a police statement.