‘False news on racial riots can undermine nation’s security’

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MEETING THE PEOPLE: Muhyiddin meeting Felcra participants at Paya Mak Inson after the function at UUM. — Bernama photo

SINTOK: The circulation of false news that there were racial riots in Sungai Petani recently can undermine the security of the country if left unchecked, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday.

The deputy prime minister said the dissemination of the news in the social media had instilled fear and concern in the people.

An isolated fight had been blown up, he told a news conference after a meeting with about 4,000 Kedah civil servants at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), here.

“It is most irresponsible when an incident is relayed as though a clash had taken place,” he said.

The social media had been abuzz recently about racial riots, which raised anxiety in the people and prompted the police to issue a denial.

“I am not sure whether the police want to find out who had circulated the news in the blogs, tweets and FB (Facebook), but we cannot allow this to go on,” he said.

It has been reported that police have detained 36 people aged between 18 and in their 30s as of 4.30am yesterday for having been involved in a squabble in Sungai Petani, to help in the investigation into the incident.

In addressing the gathering earlier, Muhyiddin said civil servants in Kedah should better understand the aspirations of the people of the state.

He said the government exercised fairness in the people’s interests, including in the states administered by the opposition, such as Kedah.

For example, he said, 602 projects valued at RM4.3 billion had been drawn up for Kedah under the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015), among them infrastructure, economic and social programmes.

Muhyiddin said Malaysia was on a sound economic platform when many countries, including developed ones, were facing a recession.

In terms of foreign direct investment (FDI), Malaysia was in 10th position this year compared with 21st in 2010.

Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman was also present at the event, which incorporated a dialogue between the civil servants and Muhyiddin. — Bernama