‘Win over voters in cyberspace’
MCA: Important to disseminate info and counter fake news online
KUALA LUMPUR: The fight for votes in the general election will be waged in cyberspace and the MCA wants its members to step up the fight.
The top three leaders of MCA stressed the importance of charging into cyberspace to disseminate information and counter fake news by the Opposition.
DAP has used social media to spread untruths when fishing for election votes, especially the younger generation, said party president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
“MCA must counter DAP’s politicking tactics that mislead the community and steer them away from mainstream development,” he said in part of his speech at the start of MCA’s two-day annual general meeting yesterday evening.
His deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, said that by inculcating a negative mindset among the people, the Opposition has deprived them of a better life.
“They are consumed by suspicion and they worry over anything done by the Government.
“DAP’s propaganda keeps planting doubts and inculcates hatred in the minds of the Chinese, especially the younger generation.
“As a result, many Chinese are missing out on government pro- grammes or incentives which are meant for Malaysians,” he said when opening the MCA Youth annual general meeting here yesterday.
Dr Wee said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who portrays himself as “a man who does no wrong”, has not only short-changed the people but also created confusion to gain an upper hand to cover his own shortcomings.
He pointed out how the Penang Chief Minister went all out to confuse the Chinese when the Government announced the approval of 10 new Chinese primary schools last week.
Dr Wee also urged the MCA Youth to step up efforts to counter DAP’s politicking which is expected to move to a high gear in the next six months – the run up to the general election.
Dr Wee, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, told the MCA Youth to actively engage the youth via social media to provide the right information to them.
Dr Wee said DAP is still very good at using social media for its self-serving interest.
Information is power, he said, adding that the people have the right to make informed decisions that affect their interests and well-being.
Separately, party secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said it is also crucial for party members to strategise tackling the “cyber war” as many of MCA’s seats are in urban areas.
“We lost out in this area in the last general election, so we need to work very hard on disseminating our publicity materials and facts and figures through social media this time.
“This is crucial so that people are not misled by unverified and distorted facts,” he said at a press conference after opening the Wanita MCA 42nd annual general meeting yesterday.