KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) will abide by Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s advice to continue combating the dissemination of fake news comprehensively
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said as an agency under the ministry, Bernama would uphold Sultan Sharafuddin’s command to intensify efforts to combat fake news, a menace that needs to be tackled comprehensively.
“On behalf of Bernama, I would like to express our gratitude to Tuanku for his advice, and together with Bernama staff and our media partners, we will combat slander and fake news comprehensively.
“In this regard, Bernama has informed His Royal Highness about the special portal MyCheck Malaysia (MyCheck) which was created to serve as a platform for verifying the authenticity of facts which have gone viral on social media,” he said.
Fahmi told reporters this after accompanying Sultan Sharafuddin and Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin on their visit to the Bernama headquarters here today.
Fahmi said he and the Bernama management would look into the need to strengthen the MyCheck unit so that, together with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) sebenarnya.my and the “Biar Betul!” segment produced by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), it could more effectively check the spread of fake news.
Fahmi, who is also the unity government spokesman, said apart from government media agencies, it is also essential to get other media organisations involved in the war against fake news.
He also said Bernama valued the Sultan of Selangor’s suggestion that the national news agency become a source of reference by functioning as an “archive or museum” documenting developments in Malaysian journalism.
“We do not have a place displaying developments in the field of journalism ... as Bernama has been around since 1968, for sure it has been deeply involved in the evolution of the world of journalism.
“With various equipment at its disposal, from hybrid to digital, Bernama can be a part of an archive or museum showcasing developments in journalism in Malaysia,” he said. — Bernama
