Political parties deploy arsenals to fight disinformation

PETALING JAYA: Political parties have deployed their communication arsenals to fight fake news, which is already flooding cyberspace and expected to get worse as the general election nears.

The mainstream media, party organs and social media are some of their avenues used to quickly counter any fake news circulated.

Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications deputy director Datuk Eric SeeTo said the coalition constantly reminds the public not to be taken in by fake news “like the selfacted videos and posts about 40,000 Bangladeshi phantom voters and blackouts that the Opposition used in the 13th General Election”.

“After GE13, the Opposition basically washed its hands of ever alleging there were phantom voters or blackouts,” he said yesterday.

Other fake news include allegations that the country is going bankrupt and a failed state, or claims that government institutions are in trouble, he added.

“We are confident that the people will learn after the last general election and will no longer be taken in this time around,” said SeeTo.

He also said Barisan quickly issues statements to the media or distributes videos via social media platforms to counter allegations.

Barisan members are encouraged to be active on social media and write opinion pieces for portals.

MCA publicity spokesman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said one way to counter fake news is to immediately report it to the relevant authorities, such as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

“We also have MCA members who take the initiative to go on social media to rebut such news.

“We train our members to be vigilant against such things,” said Ti.

He said it has become “trendy” to hit out at the Government, using fake accounts to spread allegations.

“No one spreads positive fake news, people spread negative fake news. Negativity sells,” he said.

Gerakan vicepresident Datuk Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai said a publicity team has been formed to tackle any fake news that may be used in the coming general election.

“We have set up a war room and will counter fake news through social media and issue statements, short messages or videos.

“This election will be tough so we will use whatever media can help us get word to the voters,” he said.

Lau said Gerakan employs three main principles in responding to falsehoods: no baseless discrediting of anyone; no creating fake news; and no personal attacks.

On Wednesday, Gerakan lodged a police report against several Facebook users for spreading doctored photographs depicting party president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong molesting a woman.

PAS secretarygeneral Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said the problem is not confined to Malaysia but faced by many countries.

“It is sad that fake news has become more prevalent as the general election draws near.

“For example, the latest fake news gives the names of PAS candidates in Kelantan, listing some as candidates and saying others have been dropped,” he said.

PAS would rely on its own organs such as the Harakah biweekly print publication and the online Harakah Daily as well as mainstream media to counter fake news, he added.

Takiyuddin said the Government should set up a special unit to tackle the problem, similar to Britain.

“We should do the same here and amend laws to deal with the problem as it could threaten national security,” he said, referring to an announcement on Wednesday that Britain is setting up a unit to curb hoax stories online and stop social media influence campaigns by foreign adversaries.

PKR communication chief Fahmi Fadzil described the fake news phenomenon as “misinformation with malicious political intent”.

“It is more of false information and graphics accompanied by a statement attributed to a particular leader,” he said.

While the MCMC is there to investigate fake news on social media, Fahmi said a neutral body should be formed for the task.

“The Opposition seems to be bearing the brunt of investigations by the MCMC on fake news,” he said, adding that there should be an impartial mechanism to deal with false information.

DAP assistant national publicity secretary Yeo Bee Yin said the only way for the party to counter fake news is to flood social media with its side of the story.

Yeo said the party has met with Facebook and Google, and asked them to ramp up efforts to counter fake news.

“But I don’t think it will be in time for the coming general election. I haven’t received any updates (from them) in a while,” she added.