PETALING JAYA: Leaking internal and confidential information related to the Malaysian Armed Forces will lead to legal action, says the Defence Ministry.
“The Defence Ministry views the irresponsible actions of certain parties who have openly and boldly spread speculative narratives regarding strategic appointment matters within the Malaysian Armed Forces on social media seriously.
“The ministry also stresses that such actions, including the circulation of a list of names of senior Armed Forces officers, constitute clear misconduct that challenges the credibility of the national defence management system. Pre-empting official processes not only opens the door to negative perceptions but may also affect officers’ morale and disrupt the chain of command within the Armed Forces.
“The ministry will not hesitate to take legal action against any party found to be involved in disseminating classified government information under the Official Secrets Act 1972, the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, the Armed Forces Act 1972, or the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, arising from the spread of internal government information on social media platforms,” it said in a statement on Sunday (Jan 18).
It added that any appointments or promotions of Armed Forces officers are subject to the consent of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on the advice of the Armed Forces Council.
“Therefore, any premature dissemination is considered a form of disrespect towards the Royal Institution and the leadership hierarchy of the Armed Forces,” it said.
The statement also urged all not share speculative content and to refer to official channels for announcements.
