By Geryl Ogilvy
KUCHING, Apr 30: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police have initiated 249 investigation papers relating to Covid-19 fake news across the country.
Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said of the number, 169 cases were under investigation, 26 cases have been prosecuted with 15 individuals pleading guilty.
“The Communications and Multimedia Ministry’s quick response team have refuted 243 pieces of fake news online since its inception on Mar 24.
“The response team was set up to counter the spread of fake news related to Covid-19 online,” he told a media briefing on the daily MCO updates in Putrajaya today.
Those with information of fake news online can submit a report to the ministry’s response team at 03-89115103 or www.sebenarnya.my to check on the authenticity of the news.
On another note, he said the authorities carried out 826 roadblocks across the country and checked 633,821 vehicles yesterday.
Local authorities have also carried out 40,621 spot checks including 6,203 business premises.
A total of 683 individuals have been arrested for violating the MCO, which brings the accumulative number since the restricted movement order was enforced on Mar 18 to 22,432, with 879 individuals prosecuted to date.
Ismail Sabri said 25,031 Malaysians returning from foreign countries have been quarantined since Apr 3. As of Apr 17, a total of 11,119 individuals have completed their 14-day quarantine and allowed to go home.
Touching on interstate travel to send stranded university students back to their hometowns, the minister said 3,194 students have been scheduled for the intrazone movement today, involving 1,366 students to the southern zone (Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Melaka), 1,029 to eastern zone (Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan), 519 to Perak zone.
As for the Sarawak zone, 280 students will be sent home using 25 buses between 9am and 9pm.—DayakDaily
