Phone subscribers from across Malaysia’s telco networks are reporting that since yesterday, they have been receiving random text messages purporting to be from media regulator, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
The sender’s number is not listed, and it appears in the users’ phones as simply being a mass message from “MCMC.”
Messages received read: Meraikan 20 tahun Akta Komunikasi & Multimedia 1998. Rakyat terus mengecapi nikmat kemajuan teknologi. Jadilah rakyat digital yang hebat.
(Celebrating 20 years of the Communications & Multimedia Act 1998. The people continue to enjoy technological advancements. Be a great digital citizen.)
Many have been left wondering if the country’s media regulator is now spamming its citizens, telling them that we celebrate laws now.
One high-profile recipient was Marina Mahathir, daughter of the ex-Prime Minister-slash-current candidate, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
She wrote to her followers, asking: “Anyone else got this? They forgot who set up MCMC izzit? Tsk, tsk! #GE14” Marina is alluding to the fact that the act was put into place by her father during his tenure as Prime Minister.
While we’re not sure why that matters since it’s not quite de rigeur to celebrate a law, it does read like a thinly veiled invite request to the party. Say no more, fam, say no more.
Eric Paulsen, co-founder of the activist group Lawyers for Liberty, was also a recipient of the message. He wrote that if indeed the message were to have come from the MCMC itself, he sees a case to be made for an offense under the very Communications & Multimedia Act the commission was founded on. Ooh, meta!
Another lawyer activist, Shahredzan Johan received the message twice, “just in case I didn’t get the first one.”
For most, the spam message was an unwelcome visitor into their phone’s inbox, and all are asking the same question right now: Did they actually send the message?
MCMC has yet to comment.
We here at Coconuts KL welcome only the funny spam messages. Potentially asking citizens to celebrate an act whose birthday no one knew of, via spam SMS, while inadvertently breaking your own laws? Absolutely hilarious.
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