The recent and heartbreaking killing of a student within a school has jolted the nation, reigniting urgent conversations about safety, security, and mental health in our education system.

Yet, beyond the visible tragedy lies a quieter crisis, an infodemic of misinformation that spreads in real time, amplifying pain, eroding public trust, and obstructing the path to healing. In such moments, strategic communication is not an accessory to the response; it is its backbone.

Misinformation in the aftermath of trauma

Within hours of the incident, social media was flooded with baseless claims and cruel speculation about the victim and the circumstances of her death. The victim’s mother was compelled to hold a press conference not to seek justice, but to debunk false rumours about her daughter’s relationship with the suspect and the details of the attack. No grieving parent should have to fight falsehoods while mourning a child.

This mirrors another recent case in which a teacher was charged with spreading a false claim that a young girl, Zara Qairina, had died after being put in a washing machine. Such viral fabrications reveal how misinformation has evolved into a form of emotional violence, weaponising public sympathy and distorting facts before the truth even has a chance to surface.

These incidents reveal a strategic communication failure. When institutions remain silent or slow to respond, misinformation fills the void. In a crisis, official voices including schools, ministries, and law enforcement must act swiftly and empathetically, providing verified information and consistent updates. The truth must move faster than the rumour.

The role of the media

In times of crisis, the media serves as both an information lifeline and a moral compass. Responsible reporting must therefore prioritise accuracy, sensitivity, and public trust over speed and sensationalism. Every headline, image, and caption has the power to shape perceptions and either calm or inflame public emotions.

Beyond crisis coverage, the media holds a pivotal role in building public resilience against misinformation. Through sustained public service campaigns, explanatory journalism, and partnerships with schools and universities, news organisations can help Malaysians understand how falsehoods spread, how to verify credible sources, and why responsible sharing matters. Such efforts can cultivate a more discerning public, one that recognises manipulation and upholds truth over virality.

Be a responsible individual

As members of the public, we share a moral responsibility within the communication chain. Every forwarded message, shared post, or passing comment adds either to clarity or to confusion, either to truth or to chaos.

Before hitting “share”, pause and verify the information through credible sources such as official statements, reputable news outlets, or fact-checking portals. In moments of crisis, empathy demands restraint: choosing silence over speculation when facts remain uncertain.

The recent tragedy has shown how quickly misinformation can deepen pain. In the aftermath of the Bandar Utama school incident, unverified reports and cruel speculation flooded social media.

The victim’s family was compelled to hold a press conference not merely to mourn, but to correct false rumours about their daughter’s relationship with the suspect and the details of the attack.

No family should ever have to battle falsehoods while grieving. This moment stands as a stark reminder of how irresponsible sharing can deepen the pain of victims and their loved ones.

To prevent such harm, Malaysia must integrate comprehensive, mandatory digital and media literacy education into the national curriculum, starting from primary school. This is not a technical subject but a fundamental civic lesson – one that teaches ethical digital behaviour, source evaluation, and awareness of the real-world consequences of misinformation.

We owe it to the memory of those we’ve lost, and to every family that may one day face similar tragedy, to treat the spread of false information as a grave social harm. The infodemic is not an abstract problem; it is a real driver of human suffering. The time for reactive measures has long passed. What’s needed now is a proactive, educational firewall built on critical thinking, compassion, and collective responsibility.

-- BERNAMA

Dr Tan Poh Ling is an Exco Member for Strategic Communication and Branding at the Malaysian Association of Communication Educators (MACE), and a Senior Lecturer at the School of Communication and Media, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.