KUANTAN, Oct 26 – Seventy-five per cent of the news contents and statements disseminated through the social media are false, posing a big challenge to forging racial unity in the country. National Unity and Integration Department deputy director-general Kapli Emek said a special study conducted by the department found the false news contents disseminated via popular applications such as WhatsApp and exaggerated to the extent of creating misunderstanding and confusion among the public.
“Only a small percentage is true, so why should we be spreading false information, as it could have an adverse impact on our society? The dissemination of information through this media form is one of the challenges to strengthening unity…something small happens and it goes viral,” he said when officiating at a gathering with members of the Pahang Rukun committee here on Sunday.
Kapli said efforts to strengthen unity among the country’s plural society were also confronted with the issue of insulting the religion and traditions of other communities, and this should have been curbed early. In light of this issue, he urged the people to return to the principles of Rukunegara, to bring back mutual respect and racial harmony by thinking on how to change negative thoughts.
“Unity in this country should be in the Malaysian mould, whereby each individual is free to practice his or her own religion so long as it does not contravene the law. Grassroots leaders should also play their role in building a positive Malaysian society, as no outsiders can do this except we ourselves,” he added.
