Fahmi denies ordering Google to disable ringgit currency converter widget

 

Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said Google had acted following discussions with Bank Negara Malaysia.

PETALING JAYA: 

Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil has denied that he instructed Google to disable its currency converter widget for the ringgit, following the search engine’s 

inaccurate

 reporting of the currency’s exchange rate against the US dollar.

In a post on X, Fahmi, who is also the communications minister, said Google Malaysia had done so following discussions with Bank Negara Malaysia.

Google said they were running tests with a data provider whom they had identified and would restore the widget once they are sure incidents do not reoccur,

 he said.

He was responding to a social media user who had mocked him by saying that his biggest contribution as a minister to date was 

ordering

 Google to disable its currency converter feature.

In March, the central bank held discussions with Google after the exchange rate of RM4.98 to US$1 as quoted by the search engine did not reflect the actual trading.

It was the second instance of misreporting, with the first occurring in February, that led to BNM issuing a stern warning to Google.

It was reported on March 22 that Fahmi said Google had informed him of its decision to temporarily disable features, including the currency converter widget, following discussions with BNM to prevent future errors in displaying ringgit exchange rates.

Fahmi also said he personally reached out to Google to ensure the matter was addressed. - FMT