Zahid wants MCMC to monitor racial, religious social media posts

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has asked the Digital Communications Ministry, through the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), to monitor social media posts with race and religion-based narratives politicians use.

Zahid, who is also the rural and regional development minister, said that according to a report by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), politicians were using race and religion issues on social media for their political mileage.

“This (action) creates a division between members of different parties, who are followers of the same faith. I hope that the communications ministry, through MCMC, monitors postings or writings that point in that direction,” he said in a press conference after the Department of Community Development (Kemas) Pre-Tahfiz Kindergarten with Community town hall session, today.

Today, media reported that offensive racial and religious narratives and discrimination, instigated by politicians, dominated social media platforms during the 15th general election (GE15).

It is among the main findings in the Social Media Monitoring of the GE15 report by CIJ, in collaboration with Nottingham University Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

In terms of the development of a country, Zahid said the culture of respecting religion and race needs to be applied by all parties despite different political beliefs.

“We can have different opinions and we celebrate them with good morals,” he said, adding that the government is committed to strengthening the harmony of the people of this country.

Commenting on claims that Islam is being threatened and undermined, Zahid said the government remains committed to matters enshrined in the Federal Constitution, including Islam.

Meanwhile, Zahid, who is also BN chairperson and Umno president, once again stressed that there was no move by party leaders in the government to offer PAS to join the administration.

He said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim clearly stated yesterday that there was no decision, discussion, or appointed person to negotiate and invite PAS to join the government.

Recently, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man issued a statement that several parties had contacted and met him to make an offer to join the government, echoing what was previously revealed by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang. - Mkini