MCMC blocks Sugarbook for violating Communications and Multimedia Act 1998

Sugarbook has been blocked in Malaysia by the MCMC. This comes after calls were made to ban the sugar daddy dating platform after it released a controversial list of top 10 “sugar baby” universities in Malaysia.

At the time of writing, the website is directed to a notice which says that the website is not available in Malaysia as it violates the National law. When you click for more details, it explained that access has been denied as the website had violated the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA 1998) for breaching provision Section 233.

Section 233 of the CMA 1998 touches on the improper use of network facilities or network service. It covers any comment, request, suggestion or other communication which is obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person. If found guilty, the offender can be fined up to RM50,000 or imprisoned up to 1 year, or both.

Although the website is not accessible, the Sugarbook app is still listed on the Google Play Store in Malaysia. Sugarbook currently doesn’t have an app on the Apple AppStore.

This morning, the MCMC had released a statement to remind the public to be wary of potential love scams from online dating websites. It called the recent Sugarbook fiasco a marketing gimmick and the commission will continue to monitor its activities together with the Royal Malaysia Police. It added that if elements of prostitution were found, the police will take necessary action under the Penal Code.

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