Nice to meet you: Ahmad Zahid being greeted by kindergarteners at the townhall session in Putrajaya. — Bernama
PUTRAJAYA: Relevant authorities should monitor social media for race- and religion-based narratives used by politicians, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said according to a report by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), politicians were using race and religion issues on social media for political mileage.
“This (action) creates a division between members of different parties, who are followers of the same faith,” he said.
He said he hoped authorities such as the Communications and Digital Ministry, through the Communications and Multimedia Commission will monitor posts or writings that point in that direction, he said after the Community Development Department’s (Kemas) pre-Tahfiz kindergarten townhall session yesterday, Bernama reported.
The media reported yesterday that offensive racial and religious narratives and discrimination, instigated by politicians, dominated the social media platforms in the country during the 15th General Election.
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 and Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
In terms of the development of a country, Ahmad Zahid said the culture of respecting religion and race needed to be applied by all parties despite different political beliefs.
“We can have different opinions but we celebrate them with good morals,” he said, adding that the unity government was committed to strengthening the harmony of the people.
Commenting on the actions of those who use the narratives of Islam being threatened and undermined, he said the unity government’s commitment to matters enshrined in the Federal Constitution had never been hampered.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president, once again stressed that there was no move by party leaders in the unity government to offer PAS to join the government.
Recently, PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said several parties had contacted and met him to make an offer to join the unity government.
On another matter, Ahmad Zahid said that the Rural and Regional Development Ministry would study a proposal to restructure the salary scale of Kemas kindergarten teachers based on their qualifications.
He said the matter would be discussed with the Public Service Department and the Finance Ministry.
