Rumour mongers to be punished
Zahid: Creators and propagators of fake news will pay heavy price
Creators and propagators of fake news will pay a heavy price says DPM.
HUTAN MELINTANG: The creators and propagators of fake news will be punished for their wrongdoings, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the spread of fake news, which aimed at poisoning the people’s mind, has intensified of late, especially with the coming general election.
“Fake news is usually created to influence the people and worsen a particular situation, and the propagator will get excited when the stories go viral and receive a lot of likes on social media.
“If you dare to create or propagate fake news, you will pay the price, ” Bernama reported him as saying when opening the 1Malaysia Internet centres in Kampung Teluk Buluh, Kampung Selekoh and Bagan Datuk town here yesterday.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said Internet users should have their own code of ethics and not create or propagate fake news.
“We have to be ethical. Only then can we have a civilised and religious society,” he said.
In Johor Baru, Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said the Government’s move to study new laws to curb fake news is not related to the coming polls.
The Communications and Multimedia Minister said measures to tackle the spread of fake news were considered some time back.
“Fake news could jeopardise national security, religious affiliations and racial unity among the people.
“Hence, it is crucial to have related specific laws, other than the Communications and Multimedia Act and Sedition Act,” he said after visiting Festival GegaRia 2018 at Angsana Johor Baru Mall yesterday.
Dr Salleh said fake news was now widespread throughout the world and that many countries have taken the necessary steps to address the issue.
“The Government has decided to set up a special committee to look into this,” he added.
He said the proposed law is expected to be presented by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said at the next Cabinet meeting.
Based on records, the Communications and Multimedia Commis sion (MCMC) received 1,203 complaints relating to fake news and fake contents last year.
In addition, over 1,800 websites, portals and blogs were blocked for distributing unverified contents.
MCMC’s sebenarnya.my portal to verify authenticity of viral news has recorded some 15 million hits since it was launched last March.
In Labis, MCA vicepresident Datuk Chua Tee Yong said Pakatan Harapan would resort to various psychological tactics in a bid to influence voters.
The Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister said Pakatan was good in spreading fake news, citing an influx of Bangladeshis vo
ting for Barisan Nasional in the last elections and now, Barisan supporters being given “fake thumbs” so that they could vote twice.
“They also claimed that Malay tsunami will happen in the coming polls.
“But during last year’s rally, Pakatan failed to gather many supporters while (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin could not attract large crowds in rural Malay areas,” he said after witnessing a Magnum 4D corporate social responsibility programme in Taman Sentosa yesterday.
Chua urged the people not to be taken in by Pakatan’s mind games.