KKD will continue to focus on ‘calming’ medsos – Fahmi Fadzil
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will continue to respect the right to freedom of expression, including on social media, but users are reminded not to create slander and sow seeds of hatred to create unrest in the country.
Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil said various false and defamatory news emerged during the 15th General Election (GE15) and after the election, which saw the country experience a hung Parliament situation.
He said the country is now governed by a Unity Government and the focus at the moment is to work and steer the country towards a better direction.
“So now after holding this position, one of my priorities is to calm medsos (social media). The right to speak exists, the right to express, the right of journalists.
“Like… watch over the government. That’s a very good motto, but don’t let it become baseless slander, plant the seeds of hatred, extremism.
“I was very impressed when the (last) general election, sometimes (things) that were called a bit extreme… want to be political, be political, but be moderate,” he said when he was a guest in the interview program Agenda Awani: ‘Focus on Work, Build All Confidence ‘ last night.
Touching on the freedom of the media, Fahmi said as long as it follows the law, the media is free and has the right to report current developments.
He, however, said that in addition to understanding the limits of the law , the limits of etiquette also need to be taken into account when reporting the news.
“I can monitor, I see that there is a need for the media to carry out their duties, the media is the level of journalists, one of the pillars of democracy, so do it, but not to the point of being misinterpreted, denigrating religion, the Royal Institution, we have our limits,” he said.
Touching on the internet coverage in this country, Fahmi said the steps to engage in dealings with the parties involved including service providers so that the cost can be reduced to reduce the burden on people’s lives.
“In a little while we hope there will be good news about this,” he said.
Earlier, Fahmi said the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) was holding talks with telecommunications companies to lower the price of telecommunications services in the country.
