It sounds absurd, but that was what Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said during a parliament session on Thursday (23 July).
Malaysians see the funny side
The controversial statement illicited all sorts of reactions from netizens, including media practioners, local celebrities, and even ministers.
Many condemned the ruling as a burden to content creators out there, and it's a restriction to personal freedom.
Others, however, decided to make a joke out of the situation, hence all these memes were born to entertain us on social media, something these creative Malaysians never fail to do.
Here's what netizens have to say about the licensing fiasco:
Semua kena apply lesen? You’ve gotta be kitten me ? pic.twitter.com/u1kk6s8dpF
— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) July 23, 2020
@saifuddinabd i noticed you have uploaded several videos in your fb page. Did you apply for FINAS license? Tanya saja. #Soalannakal #ridiculous #PN #JustAsking
- Lee Chean Chung (ancheanchung) July 23, 2020
Finas right now https://t.co/tu4MoNUYuE pic.twitter.com/jl5QCLZc7c
- Jeffri Salleh (@JeffriMS) July 23, 2020
From yesterday onwards, if you DON’T HAVE:
— Unmasking Walski One Pandemic at a Time (@walski69) July 23, 2020
- a Sdn Bhd company w/ min. RM50k paid up
- a FINAS production license
- a FINAS filming license, one per title
you MAY NOT:
- TikTok
- YouTube
- produce moving images for SocMed
Malaysia, welcome back to the 1980s...
First it's CoVid, now it's NoVid https://t.co/hDuUDz5eRr
— soefira ? ? on semi-hiatus (@soefira) July 23, 2020
All of y’all making Dalgona Coffee videos got FINAS license or not
— Qyira (@takterqyira) July 23, 2020
In a Malaysian prison soon.
- Yoong (@yoongkhean) July 23, 2020
Prisoner 1: What are u in for?
Prisoner 2: Uploaded wedding video on YouTube. No FINAS license. U?
Prisoner 1: Uploaded kid’s 3rd birthday on IG. No license either. https://t.co/i2sw88p5iM
Does Sugu Pavithra have a FINAS license? @saifuddinabd
- Fahmi Fadzil (@fahmi_fadzil) July 23, 2020
Me seeing my overseas oomfs post their faves videos meanwhile me because of Finas ? pic.twitter.com/s1oB8m7BIl
— Skids mom (@hugsforchannn) July 23, 2020
finas is jealous over our good video content ??, pic.twitter.com/NJLTOUJAAZ
— ً (@jkkcvlt) July 23, 2020
Finas: you cant upload a video
— Ash ?? (@BaeQin) July 23, 2020
Kpop stan:#malaykpopstangoingtojailparty
pic.twitter.com/fDssCO1dRA
One day, you'll get into a small car accident. But thankfully, you've installed a dash cam and the footage clearly show you're not the cause. You bring the dash cam to the police station to file a report, and WHAM! Police arrests you for not having Finas license. The end.
- ?☠️ (@taqiyuddinbakir) July 23, 2020
me waiting for finas to approve my ig story after i emailed it to them pic.twitter.com/buEq7EUQAa
— we are still in a pandemic #KitaJagaKita (@ammarzulkifly) July 23, 2020
On the way to Finas to apply for a filming license for the CCTV I am installing at home.
- KC Nazari (@kcnazari) July 23, 2020
Content Creator lined up in front of FINAS to apply for a license. pic.twitter.com/IZT5Bn9EfN
— Keywai (@keywai_) July 23, 2020
Lecturer: why not submit a video assignment?
— ☆ (@AfyzaaEmyshaa) July 23, 2020
Me: takde lesen finas ?
Lol
FINAS can't produce a good content on their own now they want to license us for our contents lmao
— izzi #folklore (@IzzRaifHarz) July 23, 2020
Finas to all social media after this pic.twitter.com/5rw28yHtMb
— ? paiz :P (@faizyologist) July 23, 2020
Do you use Tiktok? Post Instagram stories? Have you ever used your phone to record a video?
- Zikri Kamarulzaman (@zikri) July 21, 2020
If yes, congratulations. Technically under Finas Act, you are a criminal. https://t.co/GcXZ7SzM26
Me thinking whether i should post my cats video on instagram bcs i don't hv 50k for finas license pic.twitter.com/fHpxRjgRVg
— ✨ (@timturtlee) July 23, 2020
Probably because of the backlash, Saifuddin released a statement late Thursday (23 July) evening, saying that the government never intended to restrict Malaysians' freedom on social media.Prisoner 1 : I am here for multiple murder. You?
— Dr Jason Leong (@DrJasonLeong) July 23, 2020
Prisoner 2 : Uploaded a 15sec video of my lunch without a FINAS license.
Prisoner 1 : *inches away in fear*
Despite his statement on the issue, the damage has been done and the jokes have been made.
We hope that the government will review such law if it truly exists, because honestly speaking, the thought of everyone in Malaysia going to jail for updating their social media is absolutely ludicrous.
