GOVT WILL NOT PRESSURE OR TAKE ACTION AGAINST MEDIA OVER DIFFERING VIEWS - TEO

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- The government will not exert pressure on, or take action against, media organisations even if it disagrees with their reports, in line with its commitment to uphold press freedom in the country.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the government’s current approach differs from previous practices, as the MADANI Government opts to state its position openly without restricting press freedom.

“If the government were to summon MalaysiaKini to give a statement, I believe those on the other side would accuse the government of disrespecting press freedom.

“So even if there are articles or content that we disagree with, we simply express our position. It does not mean we have to summon them every time. I believe this is the most significant difference between the MADANI Government and the other side,” she said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

She was replying to a supplementary question from Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas), who raised the issue of a MalaysiaKini report alleging the existence of 263 fake accounts linked to efforts to boost online support for the Prime Minister.

Explaining the matter, Teo said META had also issued a statement stating that no abnormal activity had been detected in relation to the allegations.

“Firstly, META issued a statement saying that no abnormal activities were detected. That is META’s explanation. If there are fake accounts, I do not deny it; I have often said that many fake accounts have been created to promote scams,” she said.

She emphasised that the government always respects the principle of press freedom as a cornerstone of the country’s democratic system, but it must be exercised responsibly and in accordance with professional journalistic ethics.

Teo added that the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) was established under the Malaysian Media Council Act 2025 (Act 868), which came into force on June 14, to ensure that media practitioners uphold ethical, responsible, and professional journalism standards.

“The Malaysian Media Council was officially established this year once Act 868 came into effect and held its first annual general meeting (AGM) on Nov 7, 2025.

“During the AGM, the code of conduct and complaints mechanism were also approved with amendments, marking an important step towards building a stronger, more ethical, and professional media ecosystem that is trusted by the public,” she said.

Replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad (BN-Simpang Renggam), Teo said the ministry consistently collaborates with other agencies to communicate the government’s positions and initiatives to the public, such as through the Department of Information (JAPEN).

“For example, we have JAPEN Digital, where JAPEN consistently and strategically disseminates detailed information on government initiatives and achievements, as well as facts that counter false or slanderous claims,” she said.

She added that, to help the public distinguish between true and false news, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has developed the Artificial Intelligence Fact Check Assistant (AIFA), which allows users to verify the authenticity of information via WhatsApp.

“From its official launch on Jan 28 to Oct 31, AIFA received an average of 760 messages per day, demonstrating that more Malaysians are aware of its existence,” she said.

-- BERNAMA