KUALA LUMPUR – The increase in the country’s Covid-19 vaccination rate is proof of the government’s efforts to curb fake news about vaccine efficacy, said Tan Sri Annuar Musa (Ketereh-BN).
The communications and multimedia minister said his ministry found significant reduction in the spread of fake news relating to Covid-19 after the setting up of its quick response team.
“The vaccination rate is proof that fake news are no longer effective, because we have found that the community’s acceptance of the vaccine is high,” he said when answering Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort-Bersatu) in Dewan Rakyat today.
Annuar said since the first movement control order in March last year, police have opened 307 investigation papers on Covid-19 fake news.
163 cases of this number have been solved and 37 suspects charged in court, while 114 cases are still under investigation.
“We cannot deny there are still fake news spreading on social media, but they have reduced significantly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Datuk Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus (Hulu Langat-PH) asked if ministers and representatives breaking the standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been confusing the rakyat.
Annuar assured the lower House that no one is above the law.
“The law does not differentiate between a minister and a citizen. It all depends on the investigation. If an investigation finds a minister guilty, he will face action, like several ministers including myself did in the past,” he said. – The Vibes, September 20, 2021
