Penang Hindu Endowment Board Commissioner Satees Muniandy has urged the authorities to act against those spreading fake news alleging that the annual Thaipusam religious event in Penang will be cancelled due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Satees, who is DAP Bagan Dalam assemblyperson, said Thaipusam, falls on Feb 8, will go on planned.
"As far as I’m aware, there are no plans to cancel Thaipusam.
"Last week, we had our Thaipusam preparatory committee meeting chaired by board chairperson P Ramasamy and the event will be celebrated as usual," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.
"Please stop spreading false news. These fake news are more dangerous than the virus," Satees (above) said.
In a statement earlier today, Satees referred to several social media posts spreading false information that "Thaipusam in Penang would be suspended/cancelled due to spread of 2019–nCoV".
Satees said it would seem that some were not deterred from spreading fake news even after police had arrested several individuals for doing so.
He noted that those who spread the fake news linked it to the latest comment by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who said: "Malaysia will take the lead from World Health Organisation as to whether to suspend mass gatherings such as Thaipusam if the situation of '2019-nCoV' becomes pandemic".
Satees said the DPM had never stated that “Thaipusam would be suspended/ cancelled due to the spread of the virus”.
"The DPM’s comment was intentionally twisted by some people with a political agenda," Satees claimed.
Satees said the situation in Malaysia was still under control with just eight foreign patients confirmed to be infected by the virus to date.
The eight are Chinese nationals while 81 people, including 41 Malaysians, have tested negative for the novel coronavirus in Malaysia.
Satees said this showed the situation in Malaysia was not as serious as some people would like to portray.
"What’s the intention of these people who are spreading fake news if not to create panic among Malaysians?" Satees asked.
"To date, there have been no restrictions on any public events or mass gatherings nor were any cancelled anywhere in Malaysia or in other countries, except in Wubei City in Wuhan, China.
"But there are people who spread lies and misinformation, just to create panic. I hope these fear-mongers will be dealt with by sufficient legal actions.
"If anyone comes across such messages posted on social media, I advise them public to immediately refer the account or phone number to the police and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission for the necessary action." -Mkini
surah tariq bangla | সূরা আত-তারিক্ব | noor
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