Sungai Bakap by-election: Govt considering committee to prevent fake news spreading

NIBONG TEBAL: The government is considering establishing a special committee to prevent the spread of fake news during the upcoming Sungai Bakap by-election, says Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

He said it is important that misinformation that disparages the efforts of the Federal Government aimed at helping the people is stopped.

"God-willing, we will do it for the upcoming by-election," he said after the Sembang Santai Programme with Komuniti Madani chiefs here on Thursday ( June 6 ).

Fahmi - who is also the government spokesman - said that a team from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and Information Department will monitor what is going on during polls.

The Lembah Pantai MP also denied that the government is throwing sweet promises to the people, especially during the upcoming Sungai Bakap by-election.

He said he is on his scheduled visit to meet Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak at his residence in Seri Mutiara on the evening and he took the opportunity to meet the community.

Fahmi then added that the presence of federal ministers is a non-issue, as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has instructed the ministers to go to the ground to help to solve problems faced by people.

"So I took the opportunity to see and listen to some complaints from the community," he said.

Fahmi then said that the government will continue to give the best service to the people.

Earlier he took about an hour listening to Komuniti Madani chiefs at a cafe in Nibong Tebal.

Among the grouses and complaints raised during the discussion were flooding and water shortages in Sungai Bakap.