Fahmi: Madani Communities must lead fight against fake news, scams
SANDAKAN: Madani Communities must evolve into informed communities that understand issues related to race, religion, and royalty (3R), and are equipped to counter slander and fake news concerning the government, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
To achieve this, he stressed that Madani Communities — multiracial volunteer groups managed by the Information Department (JaPen) — must verify all information before sharing it, and serve as responsible channels of communication.
"Don't make it a habit to copy and share information without verifying it first. Spreading fake news can land you in prison, and disseminating false information can result in heavy fines. We need to keep reminding the public of this.
"Tell people not to be so easily taken in by the information they come across. Our aim is to spread the truth," he said during the discussion session of the 2025 Sabah Zone Series 1 Madani Community Retreat Programme held here today.
Also present at the session were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, JaPen director-general Julina Johan, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, and Sabah JaPen director Jainisah Mohd Noor, along with some 500 participants from 109 Madani Communities across Sabah.
Fahmi also issued a warning about the latest scam tactics involving fraudulent links disguised as wedding invitations.
"There are individuals sending links that appear to be for their children's wedding receptions. But when I asked for a screenshot of the invitation, they insisted I click on the link instead.
"I've instructed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to trace the individual. The link was immediately taken down… so I advise everyone to stay alert — scammers are incredibly cunning," he added. - Bernama
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