Coronavirus 'fake news': Up to 5 social media posts/shares being probed by cops

PETALING JAYA (Jan 29): It is flying around social media faster than the bats which allegedly are the source of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) now spreading across China and the globe – we are talking about fake news on the disease.

The Malaysian police have “opened four investigation papers” on rumours and claims concerning the coronavirus which include one stating the Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng “is in the way of restrictions against Chinese nationals entering Malaysia”, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported.

The news portal reported that the four posts being probed are by:
1 Facebook user “Ibu Yati” -- who stated that 1,000 people from the People’s Republic of China had entered Penang, and who asked “if a curfew would only be imposed if Lim [Guan Eng] were infected”.

2 Facebook post by “Roti Sardeen” -- who wrote that a Chinese tourist from the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in klia2 passed away on a bus owing to a coronavirus infection.

3 Facebook group “Gabungan Anak Terengganu (Original)” -- posted that patients infected with coronavirus were being treated at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital, Kuala Terengganu.

4 A WhatsApp group claiming that a prisoner had died from coronavirus in Malaysia.

Bukit Aman CID director Huzir Mohamed told the news portal that investigations are being carried out under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for publishing or circulating claims that could cause public alarm, as well as Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities.

Also in hot soup is a Facebook user called Kong Tuck Wah, who is being investigated by the cops “for sharing contents of a police report related to coronavirus”.

“We will not hesitate to take action against those who sensationalise the issue,” Huzir warned.

On Sunday, Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo urged the public to check the veracity of information on the novel coronavirus before sharing it.

Calling on all parties to be cautious when sharing any information on social media about the issue, Gobind said: "Please check the information that you receive before sharing it because two or three days ago, many postings that were shared were later found to be untrue and false. It has caused a lot of problems”. 

The Health Ministry will provide updates on the virus from time to time, releasing information through its official Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as press conferences, he said, adding:

“At least once a day, we will have a press conference… so once again, I hope that we can all view this seriously".