KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is intensifying its watch against the dissemination of fake and slanderous news against the government in the run-up to the 14th general election (GE14), says Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Jailani Johari.
He urged the public to lodge reports should they come across news reports that are fake and defamatory in nature, adding that action could be taken against those responsible under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.
He also said the public should exercise self-control and be responsible when using social media.
“The government has spent a lot to bridge the digital divide. Having access to the internet is easy because most of the infrastructure has been provided by the government.
“Now, access to the internet is easy and cheap, but it is abused by some people to make viral defamatory and offensive postings,” he told Bernama during a visit to the news agency’s operations centre at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.
Jailani said MCMC would act as a “technical expert” and assist the government and other relevant quarters if there were complaints.
Prime Minister Najib Razak previously said about 20 million Malaysians were active on social media, and warned them against believing everything on the internet.
He also said the dissemination of fake news was a threat to democracy. -FMT
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