Malaysia Explores National Internet Registry Creation Amid Regulatory Tensions with APNIC

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Malaysia ponders regulating management of IP addresses

Malaysia is contemplating the establishment of a statutory body to oversee IP address and autonomous systems (AS) number management, challenging the authority of the Asia Pacific Network Information Center (APNIC).

The initiative, outlined in a 2024 consultation paper by the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), proposes creating a national entity to handle electronic addressing resources, including IP addresses and AS numbers, alongside associated fees. The regulation aims to update outdated frameworks under the 1998 ICT Act and promote transparency and sustainability in digital infrastructure governance.

Malaysia’s proposal includes granting its National Internet Registry (NIR) full operational and technical autonomy over resource assignments—powers current NIRs lack. APNIC, which has deprecated the NIR model since halting new applications in 2012, opposes the move, citing risks of fragmented global governance. Comparatively, APNIC and LACNIC are the only regional internet registries still permitting NIRs, though fewer than 10 now exist globally.

APNIC maintains that multi-stakeholder governance—where no single entity dominates—remains optimal for internet resource management. Critics argue that reintroducing NIRs could enable political control over internet infrastructure, such as restricting access to dissenting groups.

Kenny Huang, APNIC’s executive chair, has formally opposed Malaysia’s proposal, emphasizing that new NIRs are incompatible with current policies. He noted a potential pathway for reconsideration only after completing ICP-2 rule revisions by late 2026. Officials at the MCMC, however, see dialogue as a means to push the modernization debate forward.

Stakeholders urge caution, warning that China’s historical move to formalize its national registry could serve as a case study—highlighting both opportunities and governance pitfalls. The conflict reflects broader tensions between national sovereignty and decentralized internet governance structures.

With APNIC’s stance reportedly unyielding on NIR extensions, Malaysia’s proposal remains a test of the delicate balance between local autonomy and regional cooperation in global internet management.

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