25-06-2025
Miri police, NSJA join forces to curb online misinformation
Chai (fourth left) presents a memento to Mohd Farhan (centre), as Ahmad Fauzi (fourth right) and others look on.
MIRI (June 25): The Northern Sarawak Journalists Association (NSJA) paid a courtesy call on the new Miri police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah at his office at the Miri District Police Headquarters (IPD Miri) here today.
NSJA president Chai Chon Chin said the visit aimed to strengthen ties between journalists in northern Sarawak and the Miri police, while also discussing the importance of timely and accurate information sharing.
'Media practitioners rely on verified and up-to-date information from the police, especially when reporting on matters of public safety and crime. This engagement helps ensure effective communication with the community,' he said.
Mohd Farhan welcomed the visit and acknowledged the media's vital role in delivering truthful and reliable information to the public.
He emphasised the growing importance of police-media collaboration in the era of social media, where misinformation spreads rapidly.
'It is crucial for the police to work closely with the media so that, in the event of an incident, accurate information can be quickly disseminated to the public. This helps prevent confusion and curbs the spread of false information,' he said.
Mohd Farhan, who took over from ACP Alexson Naga Chabu following his transfer to IPD Kuching in April, also shared key focus areas under his leadership, particularly the rising number of scam cases in the district.
He noted that scam cases remain a top concern, as his office continues to receive numerous complaints involving various fraudulent tactics used by syndicates to deceive victims.
'In Miri, the Chinese community appears to be the most frequently targeted group in online scams,' he revealed.
In view of this, Mohd Farhan said the police would step up public outreach and engagement efforts to raise awareness of the methods commonly used by these syndicates.
'The media also plays a key role in raising awareness through accurate and responsible reporting on scams and their modus operandi,' he added.
Mohd Farhan further emphasised the importance of public cooperation in tackling crime, citing a recent armed robbery case in which public information led to the arrest of suspects, comprising both local and foreign nationals.
'The police greatly welcome and rely on assistance from members of the public to provide any information that can help prevent or solve criminal activities in Miri.'
Also present during the courtesy call was IPD Miri head of Management Division ASP Ahmad Fauzi ASP Ahmad Fauzi Sabri.
