KUALA LUMPUR: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain has urged all parties, especially media practitioners, to be more responsible and avoid publishing news with questionable authenticity.
Razarudin said he is aware that rapid technology development has led to competition and pushed media to report current events faster.
This, he said, should not exceed the boundaries of journalism ethics.
"The development of technology has led to the emergence of various media, including portals, resulting in competition over 'who' publishes the news first.
"However, we advise the public, especially the media, to ensure that reported news comes from relevant parties involved in the issue, rather than citing 'sources' whose authenticity is unknown.
"This has happened frequently recently, such as the murder case of Nur Farah Kartini (Abdullah) and the issues concerning the management and internal affairs of the country's police force," he told reporters yesterday.
Razarudin said the police would not hesitate to take action under the existing legal provisions if there were news found to be malicious or defamatory.
Actions, he said, could be taken under Section 233 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for making statements conducing to public mischief.
Razarudin nevertheless said close cooperation between the media and the police is crucial for reporting current cases and police achievements.
As such, he hopes that the longstanding relationship will continue and at the same time understands the important role of the media as intermediaries in delivering news to the public.
A news portal recently published a report quoting insiders claiming that there will be a major reshuffle in the country's police force.
Razarudin, however, dismissed the report as fake news.
It was reported yesterday that Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has urged journalists to assist the police with investigations concerning their sources.
"While the ministry respects the media's right to protect whistleblower information, existing laws still apply and we encourage full cooperation," Fahmi said.