Fahmi urges healthy campaigning based on facts ahead of Johor state election, warning action against slander and 3R issues.
BATU PAHAT: The culture of campaigning throughout the Johor State Election (PRN) needs to be conducted healthily based on facts rather than slander, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
He said this reminder is important for all political parties, machineries, and supporters ahead of nomination day tomorrow so that the democratic process runs with full decorum and complies with the law.
He added that the Election Commission (EC) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will not hesitate to take legal action against any party found committing an offence.
“We campaign healthily, with facts and not with slander. We must ensure that our culture and manner of campaigning are full of decorum and orderliness.
“If any offence is committed during the election period, the EC and PDRM can take action,” he told Bernama when met at the Jiwa@Komuniti MADANI Casual Chat Programme at the Setara Stall in Taman Banang Jaya here today.
Fahmi said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), in collaboration with social media platform providers, has also enhanced monitoring to block the spread of false information, including sensitive issues touching on Royalty, Religion, and Race (3R).
Regarding facilities for media practitioners, he informed that a main media center has been provided in Johor Bahru, and journalists can also utilise the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) network in each State Legislative Assembly (DUN) constituency to facilitate their reporting duties.
“Journalists can take advantage of the fact that there is at least one in every DUN; they can go there either to work or to upload stories, and make full use of it,” he said.
In another development, Fahmi said he has requested MCMC to immediately look into complaints regarding internet disruptions and blind spots around Batu Pahat, following feedback submitted by the area’s Member of Parliament, Onn Abu Bakar.
Meanwhile, Onn described Fahmi’s presence in the area as an opportunity for him to convey local residents’ complaints directly to the ministry for further action.
“Sometimes there are complaints that do not reach the target, so with programs like this, we can direct them straight to the relevant parties, especially the Ministry of Communications,” he said.
The SPR has set tomorrow as nomination day for the Johor State Election, while polling day is fixed for July 11 following the dissolution of the State Assembly on June 1.
