Information DG: Respect sensitivities of flood victims, stop disseminating false news

PUTRAJAYA: The public should respect the sensitivities of the flood victims and stop disseminating false news through the social media on the flood situation in the East Coast states of the peninsula.
Information director-general Datuk Ibrahim Abdul Rahman who made the reminder, said it was irresponsible for people to spread such intruths which had gone viral.
"We need to respect the sensitivities of the flood victims. Let's not hurt their feelings when they're facing the flood disaster, otherwise we will only add to their worries and anxiety.
"In fact, in a flood situation, we should all be united in helping the flood victims," he said after flagging off a convoy from the Information Department which is on a Post-Flood Jalinan Kasih Sukarelawan Komuniti 1Malaysia (K1M) Expedition, here, today.
Ibrahim also called on the public not to easily believe news spread on the social media.
"Check first to find out whether the information disseminated are from valid sources or not before sharing that information," he said, adding that the department would be cooperating with the Communications and Multimedia Commission in monitoring the dissemination of false news through the social media.
Ibrahim said the departnment would correct and counter the false news spread by irresponsible parties such as on safety, road conditions and aid delivered to the flood victims.
"During the floods, many have taken advantage of the situation by disseminating false news and information which have caused distress to the flood victims," he said.
Ibrahim said there were 13 media rooms in flood-hit areas which provided the latest information on the floods to the media so that the public would receive valid information.
On the expedition, Ibrahim who is leading the team of 160 volunteers in 26 cars and four-wheel drive vehicles, three lorries and a van, left here for Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Perak.
They will deliver aid to the flood victims, as well as tents to those who have lost their homes in the floods, besides holding gotong-royong to clean up the district information offices, community halls, schools, mosques and victims' homes, among others.
"Hopefully, the K1M volunteers can lessen the victims' burden and lift their spirits," Ibrahim said. – Bernama