Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that the government will not proceed with its plan to redirect web traffic through local domain name system (DNS) servers.

This decision follows concerns over online censorship and potential harm to the country’s digital economy.

In a post on social media platform X, Fahmi stated that the decision was made after considering feedback from the public and stakeholders. The directive, originally set to take effect on September 30, had drawn widespread criticism, with opponents warning it could stifle internet freedoms.

The DNS system translates domain names into numerical addresses that computers use to locate websites. While local internet service providers (ISPs) generally operate their own DNS servers, many users rely on public servers like Google’s or Cloudflare’s for faster speeds or to access blocked websites. The government’s plan would have redirected these third-party DNS requests to servers managed by Malaysian ISPs.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) defended the proposal, denying it was “draconian” and asserting that it aimed to protect vulnerable users from harmful content such as online gambling, pornography, and scams. The agency highlighted that it had blocked over 24,000 websites between 2018 and August 2024 to safeguard users.

Critics, including state assemblyman Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad and assemblywoman Lim Yi Wei, argued that the move would negatively impact Malaysia’s growing digital economy and introduce new cybersecurity risks. Lim raised concerns about potential DNS poisoning, where malicious actors could redirect web traffic.

This decision comes as Malaysia faces increasing scrutiny over its online content regulations under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration. Major tech firms and industry groups, including Meta, Google, and X, have recently voiced concerns about the government’s plans to regulate social media platforms.