BUKIT MERTAJAM: Social media users, particularly voters in Negri Sembilan, have been urged to exercise caution and verify information through mainstream media before sharing content during the state election campaign period.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the reminder was important due to the increasing circulation of recycled content presented as current news, as well as false information and misleading statements that could influence public perception.
"We urge all social media users, especially voters in Negri Sembilan, to be cautious about content circulating online.
"Refer to mainstream media to verify any statement or news. If an incident or statement is not reported by mainstream media, we must be careful as it could be fake news or content from a different period rather than a current development,” he said after visiting the Nordin Ahmad Karyawan Gallery at Sekolah Kebangsaan Permatang Pasir, Permatang Pauh, on Saturday (July 25).
Fahmi also called on media organisations to play a more proactive role in verifying and clarifying viral content on social media to curb the spread of misinformation.
He said the call followed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) receiving 16 reports involving fake news and complaints related to internet network issues since the start of the Negri Sembilan state election campaign.
According to him, one of the biggest challenges currently is that many users receive information through platforms such as WhatsApp without first checking its authenticity.
Also present were National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) chief executive officer Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib and Karyawan Pulau Pinang president Datuk Dr Sohaimi Abdul Aziz. – Bernama
