By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 15: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) will file reports with the police and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) over an audio clip spreading fake information that many hawkers and traders at Kenyalang Market have been infected with Covid-19.
MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng has slammed that such individual action is irresponsible and unwarranted as spreading rumours and fake information did nothing but to put the public in distress and add more burden on Kenyalang Market community.
“We will leave it to the police to investigate and I hope there will be an outcome.
“What needs to be done must be done. We will take action because such action is unfair and will only hurt the community in Kenyalang,” he said during his Facebook live sessions with the community today.
He was referring to an audio recording which had been circulating in mobile chatting platforms like WhatsApp recently, warning people not to visit the Kenyalang Market if not necessary, claiming that test reports outcome showed that many hawkers and traders have tested positive of Covid-19.
Wee explained that it was impossible for the test results to be released so quickly due to the Hari Raya public holidays and moreover, all hawkers and traders have only been told to undergo swab testing yesterday following the market closure on Thursday (May 13).
“So how can the person (who spread the rumours) know how many people have been infected?,” he said while questioning the fake news spreader’s intention.
“It is unethical because people from the market are already extremely worried about the outcome of their results. So why need to add to their distress and anxiety,” he added.
Wee thus warned the public not to spread fake news and rumours as they are harmful and will have consequences on the community especially during this pandemic period.
Giving assurance to the wider community, he said that only hawkers and traders who have tested negative will be allowed to resume their business operations at the Kenyalang Market.
“Don’t do things that could disrupt the lives of others. In this difficult time, we are supposed to help and support one another,” he stressed. — DayakDaily
