S'gor Bersatu Youth chief fails to initiate judicial review against MCMC, Fahmi

Selangor Bersatu Youth chief Na im Brundage sought leave to challenge TikTok restrictions on his accounts before the High Court. However, judge Norliza Othman denied his request, ruling that the decision to block the accounts was not made by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Instead, the court held that MCMC merely informed TikTok of Na im's violation of its community guidelines, leading to the restrictions.

The judge emphasized that MCMC's action was not subject to judicial review. Na im had named MCMC chief network security officer Sulaiman Sultan Suhaibuddeen, MCMC chairman MCMC, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, and the government as respondents in his application filed in June 2024. He argued that the blocking of his TikTok accounts violated Section 3(3) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and claimed there was no provision in the Act that authorized such action.

His counsel, Latheefa Koya, indicated that they would appeal the decision. MCMC's counsel A Ruebankumar represented the commission, while federal counsel Ainna Sherina Saipolamin argued for the Communications Minister and the government.