AN INFOGRAPHIC titled "Ranking Kebersihan Negeri Malaysia 2024" has been circulating widely on social media and messaging platforms, purporting to rank Malaysia's states by cleanliness and carrying what appears to be an official stamp of authority.
For anyone who has ever argued about which state keeps things tidiest, the rankings made for compelling reading and very shareable content.
Did the Environment Department really release an official ranking of Malaysia's cleanest states?
Verdict:
FALSE
The Environment Department said in a statement on its Facebook page that it never issued, published or verified the viral infographic and has no connection to it whatsoever.
"The public is advised not to believe, spread, share or use the information as an official reference without verification from the department, as such action could confuse the public and trigger misunderstandings about the actual facts," the department said in a statement on its Facebook page on Tuesday (July 7).
The department added that spreading unverified information could not only mislead the public but also potentially undermine public confidence in official information related to environmental management and conservation.
The Environment Department said it takes a serious view of any misuse of its name, logo, corporate identity or the dissemination of misleading information that could damage its reputation and credibility, and will not hesitate to take appropriate legal action against anyone found to have misused its identity or spread false information by associating it with the department.
The public is reminded that all official media statements, reports, statistics, infographics and information from the Environment Department are only published through its official communication channels, including its website at www.doe.gov.my and its verified accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube.
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