Fake social media sites contribute to upsurge in racial, religious slurs

The upsurge in racial and religious slurs is contributed by fake social media sites, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

He said the perpetrators thought that they could not be traced by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

On the contrary, the MCMC had the means and expertise to go after them, he told reporters after launching the 100-day countdown to the World Cup 2014 at Angkasapuri here Thursday.

He said the identified perpetrators would be ordered to delete racial and religious slurs and slanders from their accounts or face legal action.

They could be charged not only under the Communications and Multimedia Act but also the Defamation Act, Sedition Act, and Penal Code, he added.

Meanwhile, MCMC chairman Datuk Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi said the perpetrators were traced with the help of the police and the time taken to nail them would depend on the complexity of the cases and evidence obtained.

Urging social media site account holders not to abuse their freedom, he said much to the MCMC dismay, the pictures of a slain Ambank female officer was uploaded on the Internet by a 16-year-old Facebook account holder on the pretext of promoting YouTube.