Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has extended a formal invitation to a podcast debate to a pro-Perikatan Nasional TikTok user who uploads videos slamming the government and its policies.
According to the PKR deputy president, so-called influencers spreading baseless lies to their followers are among the biggest threats faced by the coalition government today.
"With the existence of social media platforms (especially TikTok), they are free to spread their slanders and lies. They spread sentiments that do not portray the real picture and try to sway the rakyat's opinions on certain matters.
"When asked in Parliament, even their MPs (PN lawmakers) cannot answer (provide evidence). I often ask PN MPs about evidence to their claims that the country's economy is falling, and they blush and stammer," Rafizi wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) today.
Rafizi warned that netizens who spread baseless lies, as well as others who comment on such posts, could be hauled up by the police, and even face civil action if the need arose.
"At the end of the day, hardcore supporters end up suffering while their leaders live luxurious lives with big cars, positions, and pensions."
'First experiment'
The Pandan MP cited the example of an influencer who goes by the name of "YB Viral" on Tiktok, who often uploads videos on the platform slamming the government and its policies.
"This has to be stopped, and the way to handle it is by political leaders like me facing the rakyat in a question-and-answer session. The rakyat asks, I answer. I ask the rakyat (for understanding), and it is fair for the rakyat to answer.
"But one should not hide behind a digital identity which is abused to spread lies. When one uses his or her own identity, the person must be ready to face legal action for spreading lies," said Rafizi, particularly naming "YB Viral" as the subject of his "first experiment".
According to Rafizi, his office has sent a formal letter to the said netizen to attend a podcast session tentatively scheduled for Jan 8 next year, or whichever date is agreed upon by both parties.
The podcast, titled 'Yang Bakar Menteri', will be aired live on Rafizi's social media channels.
"If he dares to fill up the invitation form and return it to my office, God willing, I will give him enough room to 'burn me' and prove that I'm the 'dumbest' minister, as he has claimed all this while," wrote Rafizi.
With the post, Rafizi appended a copy of the formal debate invitation letter for public viewing.
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