MCMC Won’t Police Melaka Poll Campaigns, Will Act on Complaints

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will not interfere in contesting parties’ social media campaigns for the 16th Melaka State Election and will act only on complaints from the public, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said on Sunday (Nov 1), according to Bernama.

Fahmi was speaking at a press conference after the Safe Internet Programme at the Multimedia University (MMU) Melaka campus in Bukit Beruang.

How MCMC will handle Melaka polls

He said the commission would actively monitor social media platforms during the campaign and take action based on complaints, describing these as the only two mechanisms it would apply to posts.

Fahmi said MCMC was also keeping watch for the misuse of social media accounts to spread false information, as well as deepfakes and extremely offensive content.

Fake accounts targeting the King

“We are also tracking a trend where content is uploaded by fake accounts,” Fahmi said, adding that such content often disappears soon after it is posted.

He said 98 per cent of the accounts posting derogatory statements about the King from overseas were fake, and that the government takes the matter very seriously.

Adly Zahari as PH pick

Fahmi, who is also Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) communications director, was asked about the coalition naming Parti Amanah Negara vice-president Adly Zahari as its Chief Minister candidate.

He said the choice was due to Adly’s experience, noting that he had served two terms as a state assemblyman and was previously Chief Minister.

PH election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari was earlier reported as saying Adly would contest the Bukit Katil state seat and would be the coalition’s Chief Minister candidate if it wins.

The Election Commission has fixed Nov 14 as polling day, with early voting on Nov 10.

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