Race Riot In Sungai Petani, Kedah Is Fake News, Says Police
The fake news started from an incident in which a security guard was attacked.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.
The police have dismissed a piece of fake news involving fights between races in Kedah that went viral on Facebook recently.
Kuala Muda District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Zaidy Che Hassan said in a statement that irresponsible parties had spread fake news.
They falsely claimed that the incident happened in Sungai Petani, causing an uproar in the local community.
We hope the public will immediately stop spreading untrue things that can hurt the community’s sentiments.
Assistant Commissioner Zaidy Che Hassan requesting that the public not make any speculations regarding the incident.
Zaidy advised any individual who tries to spread such fake news to stop it and warned that police would not hesitate to take decisive action.
The case is investigated according to Section 504 of the Penal Code, which provides for a prison sentence of up to two years, a fine, or both.
The investigation is also being carried out under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which, if found guilty, can be fined no more than RM50,000 or jailed no more than two years or both.
The public is asked to contact the police if they have any information.
They can contact Investigating Officer of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Kuala Muda District Police Headquarters (IPD), Inspector Ranveer Singh Purba Sintokh Singh, at 018-4674764 or 04-4299222.
Unchecked And False Information Spreads Quickly
The news of a fierce fight involving two races recently went viral on social media.
Among the contents of the news were claims of fights between secret society groups and extremist factions.
It also claimed to involve police officers and that an emergency order had to be issued.
READ MORE: Tun M Says Malays Are Poor And The Chinese Are Rich, Could Lead To Race Riots
It is understood that the spread of fake news was triggered when a security guard was stabbed by a man at a housing project site in Bukit Banyan last Thursday.
The security guard succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Sunday (7 August).
How Can I Avoid Fake News?
Fake news – or misinformation – is flooding the internet, but how can you spot it, and what can you do about it?
Many like to share news and stories with our family and friends on social media.
Maybe it was something that shocked us or made us laugh. But did we stop to think, is this real?
READ MORE: Too Many Instant Journalists: Ismail Sabri Wants A Journalist Association To Combat Fake News
Fake news is a problem because it can make us believe untrue things, and the more often people see pieces of information, the more likely they are to think they are true.
When we see something online, we need to check to ensure it’s accurate before sharing it.
Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
