COMMUNICATIONS Minister Fahmi Fadzil has refuted claims that he directed Google to disable its currency converter widget for the Malaysian ringgit. The clarification comes after the search engine inaccurately reported the ringgit’s exchange rate against the US dollar.
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Fahmi explained that Google Malaysia took the step following discussions with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). He noted that the tech giant is conducting tests with a newly identified data provider and will reinstate the widget once they are confident that similar errors will not occur in the future.
Google said they were running tests with a data provider whom they had identified and would restore the widget once they are sure incidents do not reoccur.
This response was prompted by a social media user who mocked Fahmi, suggesting that his most significant achievement as a minister was ordering Google to disable the currency converter feature.
The issue first came to light in March when BNM engaged in talks with Google after the search engine quoted an exchange rate of RM4.98 to US$1, which did not align with actual trading rates. This marked the second instance of misreporting, following a similar incident in February that led BNM to issue a stern warning to Google.
On March 22, it was reported that Fahmi announced Google’s decision to temporarily disable certain features, including the currency converter widget, after consultations with BNM to prevent future inaccuracies. Fahmi also mentioned that he had personally contacted Google to ensure the issue was resolved. – Aug 15, 2024
Main photo credit: Bernama
