KUALA LUMPUR – Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) directive requiring all internet service providers (ISPs) to implement public Domain Name System (DNS) redirection by the end of the month is aimed at blocking harmful websites related to online gambling and pornography.
He also said the move was not intended to curtail freedom of speech.
According to several news outlets, Fahmi said the MCMC discovered that some ISPs were still permitting access to harmful websites.
“The purpose of the DNS redirection is to prevent access to harmful sites, particularly pornography and online gambling. We have no intention of curtailing freedom of speech,” he said, addressing reporters after the launch of Astro Radio’s KITAfm in Shah Alam.
Fahmi also noted that website operators who believe their sites have been incorrectly blocked can appeal to an independent tribunal. This tribunal, while under the MCMC, is chaired by a high court judge and operates autonomously.
“They can submit their appeals, and the tribunal will decide whether the block should be lifted,” he added.
To explain briefly, DNS translates website names into IP addresses, enabling your computer to locate other sites on the internet.
The issue of DNS redirection came to light following a now-archived FAQ posted on Maxis Bhd’s website, which stated that the directive would affect entities using public DNS services like Google DNS or Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1. DNS serves as a system that translates user-friendly website names into numeric IP addresses.
Public DNS services can bypass government-imposed blocks, but with DNS redirection, requests to access restricted sites are rerouted to local DNS servers, thereby effectively blocking access.
Concerns were raised by digital rights group Sinar Project on August 6 after it was discovered that some ISPs, including Maxis, had been secretly redirecting DNS requests intended for third-party services back to their own servers, according to the FMT.
The MCMC previously reiterated its commitment to enforcing restrictions on harmful websites.
Between January 1, 2022, and August 1, 2024, the commission blocked a total of 10,423 websites, with 95.7% of these related to online gambling, pornography, copyright violations, scams, and online prostitution. – September 6, 2024