KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and telecommunication companies (Telcos) have been asked to find a way to tackle the dissemination of undesired information to consumers through the short messaging service (SMS).
Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the two parties were given two months to find the best solution besides taking legal action.
"We certainly do not welcome the utilisation of veiled pornography, veiled gaming within SMS. We have seen so many kinds of SMS that should not appear on our telephone.
"We can do this under the law but we would rather let telcos and MCMC do their work," he told reporters after launching the 10 Million Signatures Campaign, here Monday.
Earlier in his speech, Rais called on the Mobile Phone Owners Association (Perbit) to be active in championing the rights of consumers in getting reasonable service according to the value of their financial cost.
"The telephone is our right and the messages that we receive, we decide them. But in many cases (now), others decide them (the contents of messages received)," he said.
Meanwhile, Perbit president Mohd Ali Ibrahim said the formation of the association was to enable them to receive complaints on the use of mobile phones.
As such, the association would set up kiosks at shopping centres to enable members of the public to lodge complaints concerning services for mobile phone users.