The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has urged the people to rise up together to fight against the spread of fake news to topple the government.

Officially opening the “Negara Ku: 1Malaysia Community” programme in Taman Tasik Sultan Abu Bakar in Pekan last night, Najib said:

“When our minds and hearts are attacked by news, propaganda as well as false information and defamation or ‘fake news’ coming out through social media or from certain leaders in order to topple a government, this is the greatest threat, and we will fight all out against it.”

Let me declare that I fully support Najib in the fight against the spread of fake news – but not just by those who want to topple the government but also to cling on to power although they have lost all credibility and legitimacy.

It must be clearly understood that there is nothing criminal or treasonous in wanting to topple the government in a parliamentary democracy – but this must be done through the democratic process, either by way of a no-confidence motion in Parliament or through the ballot box during a general election.

In fact, there is nothing nationalistic or patriotic in wanting to cling on to power by all undemocratic and criminal means – such as perpetuating an undemocratic electoral system or violating the laws of the land resulting in Malaysia regarded worldwide as a “global kleptocracy” and guilty of the politics of money to undermine the popular will. Read the rest of this entry »