KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi has sounded the alarm over the Housing and Local Government Ministry’s move to introduce online ambassadors to combat misinformation.
Labelling the online ministerial unit as unnecessary, Puad cautioned that the initiative could throw operations by the government’s social media machinery into disarray.
He also expressed concern over whether “cybertroopers” from the unit could potentially be deployed to suppress dissent by defending the minister or “unpopular” policies.
“When there are too many cybertroopers not being streamlined under J-Kom (Community Communications Department), the Information Department, and now online ambassadors, the people will be subject to confusing information.
“It would be better to just strengthen the existing J-Kom machinery,” Puad added in a Facebook post today.
On June 13, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming announced that 200 ministry staff members had been selected as online ambassadors to help the government disseminate accurate information about national policies to the public.
Previously, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said his ministry would set up a special task force to curb the spread of fake news on social media in the buildup to the Sg Bakap by-election in Penang.
The task force, Fahmi said, would monitor social media platforms to identify and address “irresponsible statements” made during the election campaign. – June 15, 2024