DEPUTY Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching has called on Malaysia’s public servants to remain committed to excellence, embrace digital transformation responsibly, and safeguard national integrity amid a rising tide of online misinformation and fraud.
Speaking at the 2024 Excellent Service Awards (APC) ceremony for the Sarawak zone on Monday, Teo congratulated 80 recipients from various agencies under the Ministry of Communications, held at the P. Ramlee Auditorium, RTM Kuching.
“You have shown what it truly means to be a civil servant – one who does not merely serve today, but contributes to shaping a brighter future for generations to come,” she said.
The Sarawak ceremony marked the final stop of the APC 2024 roadshow, following events in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. In total, 691 civil servants received the award across the three zones.
Highlighting the role of capacity-building in the digital era, Teo emphasised the need for civil servants to upskill, particularly in relation to Artificial Intelligence.
“Artificial Intelligence can ease processes, but it does not replace effort, dedication and excellence – which are the core of public service,” she noted, adding that technology must be used “wisely, ethically and with restraint.”
She cited alarming figures related to fake news and scams, revealing a significant spike in misinformation cases handled by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
“In 2023, MCMC took down 5,367 pieces of fake news content. That number tripled to 17,245 in 2024. This year alone, as of 1 August, we have already handled 16,110 cases,” she said.
Scam-related content has also seen a dramatic surge.
“In 2023, we recorded 6,297 scam reports. By 2024, this figure skyrocketed to 63,652. As of August this year, 49,082 scam-related posts have been taken down,” Teo said.
To counter this, the Ministry has rolled out digital verification tools, including *Biar Betul* on RTM, the ‘Artificial Intelligence Fact-check Assistant (AIFA)’ chatbot, and the ‘Sebenarnya.my’ portal.
AIFA, which launched in January 2025, had received 142,257 user messages by the end of July.
“This is part of our commitment to ensuring citizens can verify information quickly and reliably,” said Teo, reminding the public: “If unsure, do not share.”
Teo also commended the government’s reform initiatives, attributing Malaysia’s climb in international rankings to improved governance.
“In the 2025 World Competitiveness Report by the IMD, Malaysia rose 11 places – from 34th in 2024 to 23rd this year,” she said, calling the leap a reflection of the government’s resolve to enhance structural integrity and transparency.
Honouring the values of Malaysia MADANI
As National Day and Malaysia Day approach, Teo urged all ministry personnel to champion the spirit of ‘Malaysia MADANI: Rakyat Disantuni’, the 2025 theme that centres on dignity, equity and human-centred progress.
“This year’s theme reflects our government’s priority in safeguarding the people’s welfare,” she said.
She encouraged civil servants to express their patriotism both in duty and in daily life, including through participation in the ‘Kibar Jalur Gemilang’ campaign.
“It is more than a symbol – it is a sign of unity and national pride,” she said. - August 18, 2025
