MCMC IDENTIFYING PARTIES BEHIND FAKE NEWS ON PONDOK SCHOOL CLOSURES

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is working to identify those responsible for spreading false information claiming that the federal government has ordered the closure of unregistered pondok schools in Kelantan and Kedah.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said a complaint has been filed with the MCMC for a thorough investigation into the matter.

“The MCMC will identify those involved in producing and circulating this fake news.

“Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar issued a statement denying the allegation,” he told a press conference here today.

Fahmi, who is also MADANI government spokesman, reminded the public to exercise caution when handling information shared on social media and to verify its authenticity before disseminating it further.

“I urge everyone to exercise caution regarding content circulated online, particularly on social media, and to verify any news or information through the mainstream media,” he said.

Fahmi added that the dissemination of false information constitutes an offence under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Mohd Na’im dismissed the allegation, highlighting that the federal government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, had consistently provided full support to Islamic educational institutions, including pondok schools, madrasah, and tahfiz centres, as key pillars of the Malaysia MADANI development framework.

He also described the spread of such baseless claims, especially those touching on sensitive issues involving religious institutions, as irresponsible and potentially harmful to social harmony.

-- BERNAMA