KUALA LUMPUR: The police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) have so far opened 238 investigation papers on cases of fake news related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said of the total, 170 are still under investigation, 24 have been prosecuted in court, 11 were issued with warning notices, and 13 people pleaded guilty to the offence under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
He said the public can verify any news they come across through the portal sebenarnya.my.
"The government would like to again remind the public to be discerning before disseminating unverified content. Do not share information if you are not sure (of its veracity), as you could also face action for doing it.
"The police and the MCMC will take stern action against those sharing fake news," he told a press conference today.
Section 233 of the Act carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a jail term not exceeding one year, or both.