The Edge disappointed senior minister made fake news claim without checking

CORONAVIRUS | The Edge has expressed disappointment at Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob for accusing the news organisation of "fake news" without first conducting checks.

In a joint statement, The Edge group chief executive officer Ho Kay Tat (above) and editor-in-chief Azam Aris said while Ismail did not specify the alleged offending article, they note a message had gone viral on social media which contained a link to an article published on The Edge Markets. 

The story titled: "MCO: SOP to be tightened in control phase - Ismail Sabri", was a Bernama article quoting Ismail, who is also the defence minister, about a more stringent movement control order (MCO).

They noted that someone had circulated the article but also attached a fake list of areas that will supposedly undergo a more stringent MCO.

"This posting was not done by us. It is obvious that the person who did it, used the headline to the Bernama story that we published on The Edge Markets, and added false information under affected areas.

"We are disappointed that Ismail has accused us of publishing fake news on national TV without basis and without checking if that social media post was ours," they said.

Earlier today, Ismail (photo) in his daily briefing on Covid-19, had complained about a list of supposed areas that will undergo total lockdown that was supposedly made to look that it came from him.

"The report using my name by The Edge Markets is absolutely untrue and can be considered as fake news," he said. No such report was ever made by the news organisation.

Ho and Azam said they hope the authorities will investigate the matter.

"We hope the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will investigate this matter. These are trying times that the nation is facing.

"The Edge will always practice responsible journalism. We are also doing our part beyond our work in reporting news.

"We have rallied corporate Malaysia to raise money to buy equipment for our hospitals under The Edge Covid 19 Equipment Fund, and to provide assistance to healthcare workers who fall sick via The Edge Covid-19 Health Care Workers Support Fund," they said.

They added that this is the second time in the past week a fake social media message has been linked to the news organisation.

"We expect that there will be more in the future. But we will not be distracted from our work - be it truthfully reporting the news or undertaking Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives," they said.

The Edge is not the only news organisation to see fake messages being circulated together with legitimate news articles.

On March 16, a fake message alleged a total lockdown will be implemented and urged people to stock up on basic necessities was circulated together with a Malaysiakini news article about the country entering the late containment stage in the fight against Covid-19. 

The Malaysiakini article made no mention of a lockdown.

Readers are advised to obtain news directly from the websites of news organisations. - Mkini