New social media accounts created to attack me, says Teo

 The DAP leader and deputy minister says false allegations linking her to gang-related activities were made on social media accounts specifically created for the purpose.

Teo Nie Ching said the allegations made against her showed that anyone could become a victim of fake news in the digital era. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Deputy communications minister and Johor DAP chief Teo Nie Ching said new social media accounts were created specifically to make allegations linking her to gang-related activities in the state and a road accident under police investigation.

Teo dismissed the allegations as false and baseless, but said that anyone could become a victim of fake news in the digital era.

Teo, who is MP for Kulai, said: “I have been in politics for 18 years and have served as an MP for 13 years. There may have been occasions when I met someone once or twice, or perhaps had photographs taken with someone in an ordinary social setting. However, to claim that I was involved in such activities is a false accusation because they merely showed photographs of me with someone, when it was simply a normal social activity.”

She said the police, including the Johor police chief, had already announced that 13 suspects had been arrested. “I welcome a thorough investigation by the police,” she told reporters.

Teo said she had lodged a complaint with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission as well as a police report. “However, the main challenge is that the decision to shut down the accounts or delete the posts rests with Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram) and not all fake news can be removed immediately,” she said.

Yesterday, Senai assemblyman Wong Bor Yang lodged a police report over defamatory posts and false allegations linking Teo and DAP to a gang. - FMT