By Amanda L
KUCHING, July 26: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi has warned that the rapid spread of manipulated content through artificial intelligence (AI) and social media is making it increasingly difficult for people to distinguish fact from falsehood, urging Sarawakians to verify information before believing or sharing it.
Speaking at the PBB Special Convention for the Central Zone in Sibu today, he said advances in communication technology had fundamentally changed how information circulated, allowing false or misleading content to reach millions within minutes.
“If in the past fake news took days or even weeks to spread, today a clipped or edited video, a manipulated image or a statement taken out of context can reach millions of people in the blink of an eye,” he said.
According to him, platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and WhatsApp, together with AI can become powerful tools for misinformation if used irresponsibly.
“That is why I urge everyone not to simply believe everything that appears on social media. Verify the information first and make sure it is true. Do not become agents of spreading false information,” he stressed.
To reinforce his point, Nanta pointed to the recent Batang Lupar controversy which he said demonstrated how issues could be manipulated to create false public perceptions and fuel political narratives.
He maintained that the episode had been distorted by certain parties, resulting in criticism and accusations that did not reflect the actual situation.
“Despite the attacks, we stood by the facts and history which do not lie. In the end, the facts spoke for themselves and many people realised the issue had been turned into political capital by certain parties,” he said.
He added that the incident highlighted how easily truth could be obscured in the digital era where fabricated narratives often compete with verified facts.
“Today, what is true can be made to appear false, while something that never happened can be made to seem real,” he noted.
Looking ahead, Nanta called on PBB members to serve as the party’s first line of defence against misinformation as Sarawak approaches its next State election.
“We must be the main line of defence in upholding facts and the truth. Do not allow misinformation and manipulated content to divide the people or influence public opinion based on falsehoods,” he said. — DayakDaily
