Najib stresses on importance of fact-checking news from social media

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has stressed on the importance of checking the authenticity of information obtained from social media, in a just released book co-authored by him.
Najib, in the pocket book "Wasatiyyah & Media Sosial" written together with his religious advisor, Tan Sri Dr Abdullah Muhammad Zin, said the government had never practised fact or data manipulation to confuse the public.
However, he said, certain quarters choose to regard any arguments given by the government as only propaganda and manipulation for personal gain.
"Truth, as well as rights, is always our priority and there was never any attempt by us to manipulate facts for interest of me or any other groups.
"Hence, we leave it to the rakyat to decide, and if they are smart, they can practice fact-checking in measuring the truth.
"InsyaAllah, the majority of people will still support the government's development agenda. It needs to be realised that post-truth politics is not our way," he said in the book.
Najib warned that it is something to be worried about if even the Muslims do not fact-check on news they received, and instead carry these lies as the truth.
The 47-page book and an exhibition on cartoons and comics on struggles and moderation (Wasatiyyah) were launched on the sideline of the Umno general assembly by Najib, who is also Umno president, at the Putra World Trade Centre today.
Also present were Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and Malaysia Institute of Translation and Books chairman Budiman Mohd Zohdi.