Malaysia: Communications and Multimedia Commission issued statement clarifying that broadcasting licences under Communications and Multimedia Act do not include 80% local content requirement

On 1 November 2025, the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) issued a statement clarifying that broadcasting licences issued under the Communications and Multimedia Act do not include any requirement for 80% local content. The clarification addressed public claims suggesting that Malaysia was required, under a trade agreement with the United States, to abolish an alleged rule mandating such a quota. MCMC noted that these claims were inaccurate and did not reflect the current broadcasting licensing framework. It confirmed that the Content Applications Service Provider Individual (CASP Individual) licence does not impose an 80% local-content quota on private broadcasters and does not restrict the broadcast of international content during prime-time hours. The MCMC noted that content scheduling remains determined by market demand and must comply with existing content standards regulations.