Content creators Mek Yun, Abe Wee banned from TikTok amid media organisations mass ban
They lamented their frustration and disappointment after discovering that their TikTok accounts disappeared without warning.
SHAH ALAM – TikTok has recently carried out a major crackdown, banning many content creators and media organisations from its platform.
The sudden account removals have caused widespread concern, as many struggled to regain access to their platforms, which disappeared without warning.
Among those affected were influencer and actress Wee Yu Nee, popularly known as Mek Yun and her brother Wee Chuan Chin, better known as Abe Wee who is also an influencer.
Taking to Instagram, Mek Yun shared a video expressing her frustration and disappointment after discovering that her TikTok account had been permanently removed.
She urged her followers to support her new account, expressing distress over losing her primary source of income as a full-time content creator.
"I cried all night... Imagine spending years building an account, gaining 1.4 million followers and then suddenly, every video and memory shared with all of you is gone," she said in a video posted yesterday.
She questioned the ban, saying her content focused on spreading positivity, happiness and sharing personal experiences with her followers.
She expressed hope that she would be able to recover her old account.
However, the issue extended beyond influencers, as several media outlets have also faced similar bans, including among others Sinar Daily, Sinar Harian, Astro Awani, Utusan Malaysia, the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) and television news provider Buletin TV3.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has urged TikTok to comply with Malaysian laws on content moderation following the platform’s removal of 23 local media accounts.
He expressed concern that while TikTok enforced strict guidelines on users, it has failed to adequately address issues such as online scams and gambling content.
He noted that TikTok’s reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) for content moderation may not always align with local regulations, leading to unjustified account suspensions.
He described the company’s actions as excessive and initially linked the issue to an AI-related misunderstanding. Although some accounts were briefly reinstated, they were subsequently taken down again.
Fahmi further highlighted that TikTok, operating under an Application Service Provider (ASP) C Licence, or social media licence, in Malaysia, could face regulatory action.
He said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has the authority to engage with the company, issue directives and take necessary follow-up actions.
He confirmed that a meeting between TikTok representatives and chief editors of affected media organisations has been scheduled for Monday, followed by discussions with the ministry.
On Wednesday, TikTok defended its decision, stating that the affected accounts had violated its youth safety policies by sharing content related to an alleged sexual assault case involving a minor in Batang Kali.
The platform asserted that the move aimed to protect victims of child exploitation. Previously, it had blocked 23 local media accounts for publishing reports on the case, which had gained significant traction online.
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