KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Major tech companies

must comply with local laws to continue operating in Malaysia, a

minister said on Tuesday, after an industry group urged the

government to pause a plan to require social media platforms to

apply for a regulatory license.

The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) - whose members include

tech giants Google, Meta and X - had made the

call in an open letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar

Ibrahim, citing a lack of clarity over the proposed regulations.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government was

ready to discuss with the AIC and other industry groups on the

proposed regulations but had no plans to delay their

implementation, aimed at tackling rising cybercrime.

Under the plan, social media platforms and messaging

services with more than eight million users will be required to

obtain a license and can face legal action if they failed to do

so by Jan. 1, 2025.

"Big tech companies are big but our laws are bigger. If they

want to operate in Malaysia, they must respect and comply with

our laws," Fahmi told reporters, adding earlier engagements with

representatives of social media firms on the plan had been

positive.

The AIC letter, originally dated Aug. 23, was taken down

from its website late on Monday. Ride-hailing firm Grab

, also a member of the group, said separately on the

same day that it had not been consulted on the letter's

contents.

A new version of the letter, dated Aug. 26, was later posted

to AIC's website with several sentences removed, including a

reference to the government's plan being "unworkable" for the

industry.

The letter also removed a list of the AIC's member

companies, which remain available on the group's website.