KKD to combat fake news about rice supply

KULAI: The Communications and Digital Ministry (KKD) is ready to work with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) to combat fake news about local rice supply in the market, says Teo Nie Ching.

The Deputy Communications and Digital Minister said that KKD has yet to receive any report or fake news and misleading information about shortages of rice supply so far.

“The most important thing is that we give people accurate information so that there is no panic buying.

“KKD will help KPDN convey the message to the people so that the situation is under control,” she told reporters after handing over 120 tents to traders at Pasar Tani Jalan Merbau, Bandar Putra here yesterday, Bernama reported.Teo, who is also Kulai MP, said the public could lodge a complaint to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) if there were false or misleading news about the local rice supply so that further action could be taken.

Referring to a viral video related to the price of goods involving Deputy KPDN Minister Fuziah Salleh, Teo said MCMC has yet to receive any report on the matter.

She noted that the deputy minister had lodged a police report.

“Let the police conduct the investigation. We have not received any complaint over the matter,” she added..

The video showed Fuziah buying groceries for RM136.30 and she was satisfied that the bill was below RM200.

Meanwhile, Teo said the role of mainstream media in dealing with cybercrime and fake news on social media needs to be strengthened.

“In this day and age, the media still play a crucial role because there is a lot of information on social media that we do not know where it comes from.

“That is why we need to rely on the mainstream media, such as the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), Astro and also newspapers,” she added.

On a separate matter, Teo, who is also state DAP vice-chairman, said Johor should consider forming a unity government secretariat at the state level as seen in the Federal Government.

She said the move will further strengthen the relationship between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional.

“I believe that the time has come for the formation of the unity government secretariat to be considered at the state level as was done at the federal level.

“This will also allow us, who are now all under the unity government, to be able to disseminate information and our aspirations to the public more effectively,” she said.

She added that Barisan and Pakatan are working together more harmoniously as evident during the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections.

She said, however, there has yet to be any discussion on the formation of a unity government in the state government, including the appointment of state executive councillors among Pakatan assemblymen.

“So far, we have not had that discussion but we are open to the idea.

“The Johor government was formed before the formation of the Federal Government. As such, none of Pakatan’s assemblymen were appointed as exco members.

“For now, we (Pakatan) will act as the check and balance for the state government. The important thing is for us to continue to have a good relationship,” she said.

She was asked if there was a proposal for the formation of a unity government at the state level.