COMMUNICATIONS and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia (MCMC) and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to immediately investigate a post from a Facebook user, Sam MY, for allegedly defaming Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In a swift response to Fahmi’s statement, the individual deleted the post and issued an apology on the Facebook page in question, however, this has not stopped social media users from launching an attack, accusing the page owner of cowardice.
The remarks made by certain supporters of some political parties targeting Anwar and his daughter have escalated and are veering into malicious personal assaults.
Fahmi’s actions to call on the MCMC and the authorities to investigate the Facebook post is one step in the good direction, says some netizens. However, this risks being seen as a clampdown on the so-called freedom of speech.
According to Fahmi, the individual’s Facebook post is a malicious libel and a baseless assumption.
“This slanderer has used an old photo in which my acquaintance Abd Rahman Yusof (the individual on the right of the photo) died on June 8, 2021.
“The photo is slanderous. Therefore, I have requested SKMM, PDRM to investigate immediately,” he explained via his Facebook page.
On the other hand, a Twitter user believed to be a supporter of Perikatan Nasional recently deactivated their account after facing criticism from numerous netizens for publicly revealing Anwar’s house and criticising his daughter Nurul Izzah’s appointment as the Prime Minister’s advisor.
Kami sedang mengesan pemilik akaun twitter @RMalanjum yg telah memfitnah @n_izzah dan @anwaribrahim serta menyebarkan berita palsu. Sesiapa ada maklumat sila pm. Harap maklum @fahmi_fadzil @PDRMsia @McmcReact @lady_bugg11 @NotTommyThomas @amer7211 @MCMC_RASMI https://t.co/nCpzPSGH1n pic.twitter.com/S9oqYYT43Q
— Karim Balak (@BalakKarim) February 3, 2023
On Twitter, the popular @lady_bugg11 commented on the poster’s apology note, she asked:
kenapa minta maaf lepas sebar fitnah?
takut kena kutip ke?
boleh la try menu rahmah dalam lokap pic.twitter.com/TtTPP1BqtR— CIKY🔺NIE (@lady_bugg11) February 5, 2023
(Why apologise after slandering? Are you afraid of getting caught? He can try the Menu Rahmah in the lockup.)
This post sparked a riot on Twitter. It received 16,600 views at the time of writing and tons of comments.
User @JaiRizal2711 said:
Walaun ni mmg otak low class. Ade yg belajar tinggi2 ade degree, master and ada kerjaya yang mantap tapi masih dalam kategori bodoh dan bingai tahap sampah. Kalau yg jadik bapak org suami/isteri org or atok and nenek org sedih la dh tua2 pun bodoh
— JaiRizal (@JaiRizal2711) February 5, 2023
Roughly, he is saying, some opposition supporters are not using their brains as they are low class. Some are highly educated, have degrees,
Even though this is a low-class brain. There are those who are highly educated, have degrees, masters, and have solid careers, but are still in the category of stupid.
Meanwhile, others are saying that though the guy apologised, he should be brought in by the police.
User @MohamadSharifu8 added:
Jgn biarkan, Saman terus, atau pdrm kutip terus.
Sekarang dh jadi trend baru puak2 Pembangkang Nasional ni, tabur fitnah, pastu delete, pastu minta maaf…hmmm😡— Mohamad Sharifuddin Haron (@MohamadSharifu8) February 5, 2023
The user is of opinion that the matter shouldn’t go unpunished, as the police should catch the culprit. He also believes it is now a trend for alleged PN supporters to publish slanderous posts and then apologise. — Feb 5, 2023
Main photo credit: Harian Metro
