KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has warned of a troubling trend where many Malaysians are “simply accepting what they see on social media”.
Addressing the Dewan Rakyat, he pointed to the wave of false claims surrounding the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir.
“We are seeing a troubling trend where netizens just believe what they read online. Some even believed there was a cable car service in Hulu Perak.
“Others believed malicious rumours that the late Zara Qairina died after being put inside a washing machine,” he said when winding up the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) debate for his ministry.
Fahmi highlighted another example of a man who posed as a pathologist on TikTok Live to give so-called “expert commentary” on Zara Qairina’s case. Checks with the Health Ministry (MOH) revealed he was not a doctor and had a history of involvement in scams.
“This is why we must be cautious with social media. It is not the same as mainstream media, or online news outlets, which operate with ethical and journalistic integrity.”
Fahmi also slammed opportunistic influencers who attend press conferences just to ask self-serving questions and push their own narratives for monetary gain.
He pointed to a statement by the Malaysia Media Council urging ethical reporting and the protection of children as prescribed under the law.
Fahmi said he had also directed the Information Department, Bernama and RTM to continue running public awareness campaigns reminding Malaysians not to believe everything they see on social media.
On why details of the charges against the five minors accused of bullying Zara Qairina could not be disclosed, Fahmi said this is due to legal restrictions under Section 15 of the Child Act 2001.
“Regarding the case before the Kota Kinabalu Children’s Court, the Child Act clearly states that restrictions apply when a case involves children.
“This is not an order from any authority but an automatic application of the law. Any case involving children under 18 automatically falls under the Child Act,” Fahmi said.
