PM: Time to stop online slander
Published on: Tuesday, August 04, 2015
Selangor: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has instructed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to streamline the laws and step up enforcement to check dissemination of slander on social media.The Prime Minister said if such slanders were allowed to fester, it would alter the mindset of the people and create a state of "trial by social media"."When faced with trial by social media, we, as members of the administration, will be declared guilty before trial.
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"But when it comes to the Opposition, it is all considered defamation, not considered as the truth. Is this not weird?" the Umno president asked when opening the Hulu Selangor Umno division meeting here yesterday.Najib said the Government could not obstruct the progress of technology but it also could not give absolute freedom to the extent that untruths were turned into truths.He said Umno should also become an active social media practitioner and have a specific programme to change the perception of the people."Today, perception seems to overwhelm reality. We need to understand the situation when faced with attacks in cyberspace to better position our party," he said.
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He said the Opposition parties were not free of problems but could survive and win elections because they looked after each other."Even when the issue of the lost Omega, or that of a certain underwear came to light, the supporters of the Opposition parties remain steadfast with their leaders."
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He said Umno should learn from the mistakes made in the 13th general election and ensure its programmes and strategies can woo support from those not outside the party or Barisan Nasional.He also warned Umno against syok sendiri (self indulgent) attitude because this would only cause the party to lose and suffer."If we do things that are ineffective, the outcome will be like the last GE. We do programmes thinking that votes will increase but the outcome showed otherwise."Even I was duped. There were places and programmes I attended where the turnout was 30,000 people. We thought those who came would vote for us but in the end they didn't," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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