SUBANG JAYA: Politicians can play an important role in controlling fake news in social media, a forum on “Social Media in the New Malaysia” at Sunway University here today was told.
DAP’s Sarawak State Assemblyman for Pujut, Dr Ting Tiong Choon (pix), said this was evident during the two recent social media stirring events which are ICERD and the recent Seafield Hindu Temple fracas.
“This is when politicians need to come out quickly and tell the people what is happening,” Ting said. “This is to avoid misperception and the spread of random assumptions and fake news especially through social media.”
Former DAP Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi said live footages viralled by “self-appointed journalists” during the Seafield temple scuffle lacked context which was crucial at that time.
He added that these “journalists” did not likely reach their objective of passing on accurate information but deteriorated the situation.
“We need to have context. When footages as such are made viral, lacking context, they lead to inaccurate and unmeaningful messages circulated,“ Ooi said.
