Let’s not be fake news mongers
> Umno divisions told to disseminate positive information
KOTA BARU: Members of the Umno Information Technology and Social Media Bureau were yesterday told not to be part of those responsible for disseminating false news.
Bureau chairman Datuk Ahmad Maslan ( pix) said they should instead disseminate material that were positive for the people to read.
He said with the approaching 14th general election (GE14), all 191 divisions should focus on development projects carried out by the federal government in their respective states.
“They should also counter accusations by the Opposition, especially on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad and Goods and Services Tax, and also the candidates contesting for Barisan Nasional in GE14.”
He said the bureau had been preparing for GE14 since two years ago, but said there is a need for efforts to be enhanced.
Meanwhile in KUALA LUMPUR, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak yesterday described foreign media reports on Malaysia as “very one-sided” and “not balanced”. He said they gave the impression that everything about the government was bad while the Opposition were good, Bernama reported.
He also said the reports on Malaysia and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had been “recycled” from those of years ago about corruption, fraudulent elections, lack of democracy and denial of freedom of speech.
“Over the last two days, the foreign media has been attacking Malaysia in general and Najib in particular.
“This is not surprising considering Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said that (the Opposition) was “forced to use foreign media channels”.
Salleh said for the last 30 years, even when Mahathir was prime minister, foreign media agencies had been producing the same type of reports.
He said the Opposition then spread these reports to give the impression that the whole world was against Malaysia.
“What the foreign media fails to mention in these reports is the many cases of corruption now being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in the Pakatan Harapan states of Selangor and Penang.”