PKR has denied claims that it is behind a purported move to encourage its members into producing short videos critical of the Perikatan Nasional government.
Alluding to a report by an online portal that quoted purported party sources, PKR information chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin (above) said: "Further, the claim that funds were allocated (by the party) to offer a reward for the short videos is not true."
"Surely we (PKR) don't have such financial means," said the former deputy minister in a statement today.
Free Malaysia Today yesterday revealed an alleged plot purportedly hatched by PKR to deny public support towards the government, including through the production of short videos that highlighted weaknesses of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's administration.
The portal also claimed to have sighted an internal message from a PKR group chat which stated that the party's news organ has taken the initiative to coordinate the video campaign.
It further quoted an anonymous party source on an "incentive" that has purportedly been offered since February for party members who "actively criticise the government."
Commenting further, Shamsul Iskandar said the general public's criticism of the government is largely based on their own rationale and judgement.
"We are confident that the rakyat has the wisdom to criticise moves with a negative impact on their lives," he said.
"Any attempt to divert the criticisms to attack me and PKR is unfortunate because at this moment, we must focus on efforts to curb the outbreak and save the country, not to play politics," he stressed.
Meanwhile, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil took aim at an Information Department's tweet yesterday that highlighted six categories of "fake news" and its impacts.
"I am quite disturbed by the graphic disseminated by Jabatan Penerangan which interpreted instilling hate towards the ruling government as a form of fake news.
"What law or Act did they base this interpretation on? How is this ‘fake news’?," the Lembah Pantai MP told Malaysiakini.
"While we are ‘at war’ with Covid-19, we must not sacrifice democracy or legitimate criticisms against measures taken by the government and more specifically the political leaders.
"My biggest fear is that this administration will roll back the significant progress made in institutional reforms and freedom of the media seen over the last two years, to the ultimate detriment of the rakyat and Malaysian democracy," he stressed.
Earlier today, several groups working on issues surrounding freedom of expression and freedom of the press have raised similar concerns over the Information Department's misguided attempt at raising awareness on fake news. - Mkini
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