Minister lodges police report against news portal over false news
SANDAKAN: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law), Datuk Liew Vui Keong, has lodged a police report against an online news portal, sabahkini2.com, for reporting that he had facilitated in the issuance of fake MyKad through ‘Project IC’ during a Public Complaints Programme that was held at the Batu Sapi Rakyat Service Centre, Karamunting flats here, on Sunday.
“I categorically deny the allegation made by SabahKini2.com (published on August 12) which claimed that there were complainants in the programme who acquired old identity cards through ‘Project IC’ but had yet to receive their MyKad. It is not true.
“In fact, a police report has been lodged against SabahKini2.com for disseminating false news and creating fear amongst the locals. It is most irresponsible for the news portal to resort to such underhand tactics to gain cheap publicity. The damage done to the ministry under my purview is very serious, and stern action will have to be taken against the portal for reporting false news in the future which is calculated to confuse the people. The application form as claimed by SabahKini2.com is not valid, and it is not even signed by any of the officers present. The accusations, which have led the rakyat to believe that Parti Warisan is actively promoting ‘Project IC’ in Batu Sapi is also baseless and part of a ‘cheap political game’.
“The objective of the programme is to assist the people by tackling grouses related to dealings with government departments and agencies. Our role is merely to advise the people with regard to their issues and to refer them to the appropriate government departments and agencies,” Liew said.
He also said that he does not have the power to approve any applications for MyKad, and the government is serious about solving the perennial problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah.
Liew said that a total of 476 reports were received throughout the Public Complaints Programme which was held to assist the locals to refer their problems to the relevant government agencies.
Nine government departments and agencies were present during the programme, which include the Water Department (Sandakan), Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (Sandakan), Sandakan District Police Station, Sandakan Immigration Department, Sandakan Health Department, National Registration Department (Sandakan), Sandakan Municipal Council, Public Works Department (Sandakan), and Sandakan Fire and Rescue Department.