Najib: Vital to check truth of online info
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak stressed the importance of checking the authenticity of information obtained from social media, in a newly released book co-authored by him.
Najib, in the pocket book Wasatiyyah & Media Sosial written together with his religious advisor, Tan Sri Dr Abdullah Muhammad Zin, said the government had never practised fact or data manipulation to confuse the public.
However, he said, certain quarters chose to regard any arguments given by the government as mere propaganda and manipulation for personal gain.
“Truth, as well as rights, is always our priority and there was never any attempt by us to manipulate facts for the interest of myself or any groups.
“We leave it to the rakyat to decide, and if they are smart, they can practise fact- checking in measuring the truth.
“InsyaAllah, the majority of people will support the government’s development agenda. It needs to be realised that post-truth politics is not our way,” he said in the book.
The 47-page book and an exhibition on cartoons and comics on struggles and moderation (Wasatiyyah) were launched by Najib on the sidelines of the Umno general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.
Also present were Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and Malaysian Institute of Translation and Books chairman Budiman Mohd Zohdi. – by Amar Shah Mohsen