From WhatsApp messages to Facebook postings, fake news has been spreading like wildfire, especially at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The act of sharing unverified ‘news’ or materials is a cause for concern for the authorities.
Since the pandemic hit Malaysia early last year, various efforts and initiatives have been taken to address misinformation. They included programmes to educate the masses and using existing laws to penalise those who spread fake news.
Here are the numbers:
Between March 18, 2020, and Sept 5, 2021:
- 307 investigation papers were opened regarding fake news related to Covid-19.
- 277 were investigated under Section 505 of the Penal Code, and under the Communications and Multimedia Act, 1998.
- 30 were investigated under the Emergency Ordinances.
- 37 individuals have been charged in court.
Malaysia ICT Volunteer, a group aimed at empowering individuals and communities to improve digital literacy and become smart digital citizens, carried out:
- 83 programmes in 2020, and
- 25 programmes to date, from the beginning of 2021.
The Rapid Response Team, comprising personnel from the ministry, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the National Security Council, debunked:
- 416 fake news in 2020, and
- 63 fake news throughout this year.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said his ministry had taken numerous steps to address, prevent and overcome the problem.
“However, the ministry believes that public awareness is crucial, and as such, educational programmes have been initiated and will continue,” Annuar said in the Dewan Rakyat.
“As an example, the ministry, through MCMC, launched the ‘Tidak Pasti Jangan Kongsi’ (Not sure, don’t share) and ‘Klik Dengan Bijak’ (Click wisely) campaigns. They were well-received and were a great success, thanks to news agencies like RTM, Bernama, the Information Department, and other media outlets.”
“The ministry, also through MCMC, organised advocacy programmes involving communities. They include the Malaysia ICT Volunteer programme.
“The close cooperation between social media service providers like Twitter, Facebook and Google is being enhanced,” he added.
Annuar said the government portal Sebenarnya.my – a site that debunks fake news – had seen 9.83 million hits throughout 2020, till July this year. He added the high hits rate was due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here are Twentytwo13’s news highlights.
DRIVER IN FATAL FEDERAL HIGHWAY CRASH CHARGED WITH MURDER
K. Devaaswin, 24, was charged with murder following a fatal accident that killed two teenagers at Km8.6 of the Federal Highway heading towards Kuala Lumpur on Sept 12.
The marketing executive nodded his head, indicating that he understood the two charges that were read to him at the Shah Alam magistrate’s court this morning.
No plea was recorded before magistrate Nur Faizah Abdul Sani. No bail was allowed, and his case will come up for mention on Oct 21.
It was earlier reported that a motorist, who was driving against traffic, crashed his four-wheel drive vehicle into another car, killing both the driver and passenger. Police said the motorist tested positive for drugs.
NUR SAJAT NABBED IN THAILAND
Cosmetics entrepreneur Muhammad Sajjad Kamaruz Zaman, popularly known as Nur Sajat, has been arrested by Thai immigration authorities, Harian Metro reported.
It was reported that Nur Sajat and a local, were detained at a luxury condominium in Bangkok, on Sept 8.
The Shah Alam Syariah High Court, had in February, issued an arrest warrant against Nur Sajat for failing to appear in court. Nur Sajat was believed to have fled the country then.
Nur Sajat was charged with dressing up as a woman at a religious event in a beauty centre in Shah Alam, and for disrespecting Islam on Feb 23, 2018.
MACC NABS OWN OFFICERS OVER ABUSE OF POWER PROBE
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) detained three of its officers following an investigation into allegations of abuse of power and malpractice involving a former department head.
The anti-graft body, in a statement today, said it would not compromise, nor protect its personnel involved in crime.
The three officers were brought to the Putrajaya magistrate’s court and remanded for six days from Sept 14-19.
Police had earlier this morning, issued a statement denying it had detained MACC officers.
EX-FT MINISTER ZULHASNAN NOW WITH KNM GROUP
KNM Group has appointed former Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Zulhasnan Rafique as its independent and non-executive chairman.
The appointment is effective Sept 18.
KNM Group made this announcement in its stock exchange filing with Bursa Malaysia.
KNM Group is a multinational company involved in manufacturing, power, and petrochemicals, among others.
