The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is investigating 42 cases of false information on the global energy crisis, with 22 individuals called in for questioning.
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has opened 42 investigation papers into the spread of false information concerning the global energy crisis and the West Asia conflict.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil revealed that 31 of these cases involved fabricated reports about fuel costs.
A total of 22 individuals from across the country have already been summoned to have their statements recorded to assist the ongoing probes.
The commission has also submitted 355 requests to various social media platforms for the removal of false content, with 154 items already taken down by the providers.
Fahmi urged all Malaysians to remain vigilant when encountering information, especially on social media platforms.
“In a time when the world is facing current challenges, there are parties who take advantage by spreading unverified information solely to gain attention and influence,” he said during a briefing on the global energy crisis.
He emphasised the critical importance of practising ‘tabayyun’, or verifying information before sharing it in the fast-paced digital landscape.
When questioned on whether the 22 individuals were linked to political parties or NGOs, Fahmi clarified that political affiliation was not the investigation’s focus.
He stated that the probes are centred on understanding how the information was obtained, its original source, and the intent behind its public dissemination.
“At this stage, the investigation is more focused on how they obtained the information, where it came from and why it was shared,” Fahmi added.