KUALA LUMPUR – Twitter has removed a tweet by Malaysia Digital Economy Corp chairman Datuk Dr Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff for promulgating an unsubstantiated cure for Covid-19.
The social media network operator said it has deleted Rais’s tweet for breaching its strict rules and regulations, reported the Star.
Rais was lambasted by social media users on Thursday after tweeting a “corona kashayam” recipe that he claimed “may help to prevent the virus attack”.
Rais took to his Twitter account, sharing an image of the recipe for the water-based decoction, comprising turmeric, cloves, lemons, and ginger, which claims in its note: “Proven method told by a medical doctor (allopathy) who was affected by coronavirus (+ve) and cured in 24 hours by taking the above kashayam. This kashayam will rectify all viral fevers.”
Rais tweeted: “Try this... I have started... May help to prevent virus attack!”
However, the tweet was immediately debunked by netizens, quoting India’s fact-checking platform on fake news and misinformation, called BOOM.
BOOM’s report, which debunked the circulating note last year, said that an ayurveda expert they had spoken to had stated that “the mixture can be consumed as an immunity booster but should not be labelled as a cure for Covid-19”.
Despite the huge criticism, Rais continued to defend his tweet, tweeting in a reply to a netizen: “This is to prevent virus attack! Did I say Covid19!”
This is despite the image and the name of the concoction clearly stating the word “corona”.
Many netizens have since called on Health Director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah to rebuke Rais for his tweet. – The Vibes, January 15, 2021
