KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has addressed public concerns over the recent fines imposed on Maestra Broadcast Sdn Bhd, the operator of Era FM, as well as individuals involved in controversial online content.
The commission’s move to fine Maestra Broadcast RM250,000 – far more than the RM10,000 penalties given to comedian Harith Iskander and Facebook user Cecelia Yap – sparked debate, with many questioning the rationale behind the disparity.
However, in an FAQ released today, the MCMC insists that its decisions were guided by legal provisions, the timing of the offences, and the severity of each case.
Who was fined and why?
Some confusion arose over the hefty RM250,000 fine, with many mistakenly believing it was imposed on Era FM itself. In reality, the fine was issued to Maestra Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd (MBNS), a subsidiary of Astro with significant financial resources.
This penalty was determined with the approval of the Attorney-General’s Chambers and was based on recent amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which took effect on February 11, 2025. These changes increased the maximum court-imposed fine to RM500,000.
Meanwhile, Harith and Yap were each fined RM10,000 for separate offences related to content involving Islam. Their violations occurred before the amendments took effect, meaning their penalties were based on the previous maximum fine of RM50,000, the MCMC explained.
Why was Maestra Broadcast fined RM250,000?
On March 4, MCMC said it launched an investigation into Maestra Broadcast after receiving complaints about a video allegedly insulting Hinduism, which had been posted on the official Era FM TikTok account (@era.je). Since the company was responsible for the content on its platform, it was found to be in violation of Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
The case was then referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, which determined that a fine was the appropriate course of action. Given the seriousness of the offence and its potential to incite racial and religious tensions, the company was fined RM250,000, the MCMC noted in the FAQ.
The fine reflects the new amendments, which increased penalties to a maximum of RM500,000, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both – highlighting the government’s push to hold corporations accountable for violations involving race, religion, and royalty (3R) issues.
How was the fine determined?
Following the incident, MCMC summoned Maestra Broadcast’s senior management to provide an explanation and instructed them to implement stricter content controls and staff training.
“Maestra Broadcast was also advised to tighten content controls, comply with broadcasting guidelines, and ensure its staff undergo continuous training to prevent future legal violations,” MCMC said in the FAQ.
Despite these corrective measures, the nature of the content and its impact on public harmony warranted a firm response. MCMC concluded that a RM250,000 fine was appropriate given the potential for unrest, the company’s corporate responsibility, and the revised penalties under the amended law.
Why wasn’t Maestra Broadcast’s licence suspended?
MCMC initially issued a notice of intent to suspend Maestra Broadcast’s licence but ultimately decided against it. The company’s swift corrective actions – including offering a written explanation, issuing a public apology, and removing the offending content – played a role in this decision, the MCMC noted.
The regulator pointed out that suspending the licence would have also affected other radio stations under the same licence, such as Melody FM and Mix FM, which were not involved in the controversy.
Why were Harith and Yap fined less?
While Maestra Broadcast was penalised under the updated legal framework, Harith and Yap were fined based on the laws in place at the time of their offences.
Before February 11, 2025, the maximum fine under Section 233 was RM50,000, which explains why their penalties were lower.
Additionally, Meta had already removed their offensive content before any official takedown request was made.
MCMC’s stance: No bias, just the law
MCMC’s FAQ maintains that the decisions were based strictly on legal guidelines, the severity of the offences, and the distinction between corporate and individual responsibility.
Maestra Broadcast faced a heavier fine because, as a corporate entity, it holds greater public accountability for its content.
Meanwhile, Harith and Yap were fined under the legal provisions that applied at the time of their respective offences. – March 12, 2025