WITH the rise of social media, any information posted on Facebook, Twitter or any platforms can be easily disseminated and circulated, if shared appropriately. However, some information, being spread around, is simply not true. It’s fake or false news – without verification and justification but can be mistaken – and even swallowed lock, stock and barrel – as real news.
We see people with certain motives trolling old news as recent (and even current) news. They spread inappropriate information, report wrong facts and much more. This is enough to addle and confuse people.
Recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak called on the people to unite in fighting fake news. He said such news not only threatened social peace but also undermined the national atmosphere of harmony as well as attacked and convoluted the thoughts of the people, adding: “It is seen as more dangerous than physical war.”
People who regularly send false messages do so to serve their own political ends. Their intention is obvious – to turn the well-meaning efforts of the government into something controversial and negative in an attempt to over throw the government that is democratically elected.
Citing an example, the prime minister said someone once depicted ‘BR1M’ as animal feed or bribery. However, for the past three months, the statements and position of this ‘someone’ have been fraught with inconsistencies and uncertainties. The one constant in his political harangues smacks of a personal vendetta.
The prime minister has reiterated the assistance provided under BR1M is not tied to any ‘must vote for BN’ terms or conditions.
He also refuted ‘sale of citizenship to China’ rumours, stressing that the government does not grant Malaysian citizenship to those involved in Johor’s housing development programme. According to the rumours, the government wants to give 300,000 citizenships to Mainland Chinese people. This is, of course, a false message. There is no such thing.
On Proton, the prime minister explained the government’s request for the nation’s leading car maker to find strategic partners is aimed at expanding the domestic car market. However, this request has been twisted by some quarters to cast aspersion on the government that it wants to ‘sell Proton to foreigners.’
Najib pointed out that without the RM1.5 billion government loan, Proton might face bankruptcy and since the government did not want to see a massive number of employees losing their jobs, it has, thus, decided to save Proton.
The columnist agrees with Najib’s call to fight false news but first, the government must set up a formal mechanism to do it. Clamping down on false news is necessary. What is needed now is for the government to put in place a designated platform to counter bogus and phony information. More crucially, this will give the public an avenue to authenticate information of a dubious nature.
Towards this end, the columnist suggests the government set up a News Inquiry Centre. The public can report to the police via the Centre for the necessary action to be taken after confirming the faux nature of the news disseminated.
With the popularity of the Internet and the proliferation of social media users, all kinds of false news have been flooding the network such as the current online circulation of a picture, showing Bangladeshi men being given ICs (identity cards), and news being fallaciously spread on the acquisition of Proton by China.
While the authenticity of the picture showing Bangladesh men receiving ICs is very much in doubt, the comments posted by some, though bereft of any evidence, nonetheless have many believing that ICs are being given to foreign workers to boost BN’s chances of winning the upcoming election. Even though the news has been proven false, the damage has already been done.
As for rumours of Proton being sold to Chinese companies, the fact is Proton is currently negotiating with a number of foreign companies and who will eventually become Proton’s strategic partner has not been confirmed yet.
The election is close. A war of words between ruling and opposing parties is inevitable.
The columnist urges both sides to stop spreading fake news on sensitive issues to stir up the people’s emotions as this is detrimental to the well-being of the country.
It is every citizen’s responsibility to combat fake news but the government should show the way by taking the first step to declare war against sensationalising news that does not map to reality but created to solely attract attention, gain political mileage and damage reputations. (From Oriental Daily)