SIRIM QAS International is the sole certifying agency appointed by Malaysia authority. Type Approval is a mandatory requirement for a communications product before it is allowed to be sold in Malaysia. Among the products that need to be certified there are: netbook, tablet PC, mobile phone, security devices, smart TV, WiFi/3G/Bluetooth module and broadcasting equipment. Foreign applicants shall appoint a local management representative in Malaysia to be responsible for Type Approval application. As a member of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement (APEC-MRA), Malaysia accepts product approvals from APEC members.

According to the Certification Requirements for Compliance Approval on Communication, Multimedia, and Hybrid Equipment, import licenses are required for hybrid ICT products. These include those devices with multiple features including toys, medical devices, and computer products.

According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) guidelines, there is a licence requirement for Content Applications Service Provider (CASP) and Applications Service Provider (ASP). In assessing the shareholding structure of an applicant, the MCMC takes into account the need to encourage more local small and medium size industries of Malaysian origin in the local information and communications technology industry.

A basic legal framework on intermediary liability beyond copyright infringement is absent in Malaysia's law and jurisprudence.

It is reported that Malaysia imposes an identity requirement for SIM registration. Anyone wanting to purchase a SIM card has to provide their national ID card, or a passport in case of foreigners, to activate a new prepaid SIM card.

Section 116B of the Criminal Procedure Code provides that a police officer conducting a search under the Code must be given access to computerised data whether stored in a computer or otherwise. For the purpose of this section, 'access' includes being provided with the necessary password, encryption code, decryption code, software, or hardware and any other means required to enable comprehension of the computerised data. It is not clear whether a court order is needed to access the information.

The amendment of the Copyright Act of 2012 (Act 1420) establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries for copyright infringements. According to Art. 43F of the law, Internet Services Providers (ISPs) and content aggregators are provided immunity from liability for copyright infringement if they protect copyright owners by removing or disabling access to the infringing content.

Under Section 6(3) of the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act 2012, a police officer with the rank of superintendent of police or above may intercept communications without the authorization of the public prosecutor in urgent cases.

Malaysia has joined an agreement with binding commitments to open transfers of data across borders: the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP, Art. 14.11)

Data protection is primarily governed by the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, Malaysia's first comprehensive personal data protection legislation. It purports to safeguard personal data by requiring data users to comply with certain obligations and conferring certain rights to the data subject in relation to their personal data.

Section 129(1) of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) prohibits a data user from transferring the personal data of a data subject to a place outside of Malaysia unless to places specified by the Minister, upon the recommendation of the Personal Data Protection Commissioner, by notification published in the Gazette. The Minister may specify such places that have any law in force which is substantially similar to the PDPA, serves the same purpose as the PDPA, or ensures an adequate level of protection in relation to the processing of personal data which is at least equivalent to the level of protection afforded by the PDPA. Section 129(3) of the PDPA provides exceptions whereby a data user may transfer any personal data to a place outside Malaysia if:
- the data subject has given their consent to the transfer;
- the transfer is necessary for the performance of a contract between the data subject and the data user;
- the transfer is necessary for the conclusion or performance of a contract between the data user and a third party which: is entered into at the request of the data subject; or is in the interests of the data subject;
- the transfer is for the purpose of any legal proceedings, obtaining legal advice or for establishing, exercising, or defending legal rights;
- the data user has reasonable grounds for believing that in all circumstances of the case: the transfer is for the avoidance or mitigation of adverse action against the data subject; it is not practicable to obtain the consent in writing of the data subject to that transfer; and where it is practicable to obtain consent, the data subject would have given their consent;
- the data user has taken all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to ensure that personal data will not be processed in any manner which if that place were Malaysia, would be a contravention of the PDPA;
- the transfer is necessary in order to protect the vital interests of the data subject; or
- the transfer is necessary as being in the public interest in circumstances as determined by the Minister.

Section 36(2)(c) of the Goods and Services Tax Act creates a duty to keep records described in Section 36(1) in Malaysia, except as otherwise approved by the Director-General of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department. These include all records of goods and services provided by a taxable person, all imports records by the same, and, as per paragraph 133(c) of the Guide to Goods and Services Tax, any other supporting documents such as contracts or price quotations that affect or may affect said person's liability under the Act. Paragraph 134(b) of the Guide states that the requirements cover documents in electronic form.
Section 36(6) of the Act extends the requirements to certain non-taxable persons. Paragraph 135 of the Guide specifies that these include:
- any person who has ceased to be a taxable person and has made or may make a bad debt relief claim;
- imported services supplied to a recipient who is a non-taxable person for the purposes of business;
- goods of a taxable person sold by a non-taxable person to recover any debt owed by the taxable person;
- supply by auctioneer, who is a non-taxable person, in his own name on behalf of the principal/owner of the goods who is a taxable person; and
- a non-taxable person in Malaysia who receives goods in the course or furtherance of business, from an approved toll manufacturer.

Section 82(8) of the Income Tax Act 1967 states that all records that relate to any business in Malaysia shall be kept and retained in Malaysia. 

Under Section 167(3) of the Companies Act 1965, accounting and other such financial records pertaining to operations in Malaysia must be stored at the company's registered address or at any other such place in Malaysia. Section 167(5) of the Companies Act states that if records are kept at a place outside of Malaysia, pursuant to Section 167(4) regarding operations outside of Malaysia, these records must be made available in Malaysia if required by the Registrar.

Malaysia has only partially appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.