Woman fined RM4,000 for spreading fake fuel price news on social media, says MCMC

“PUTRAJAYA, May 19 — A woman was fined RM4,000 by the Sepang Sessions Court, yesterday, after pleading guilty to spreading false information regarding petrol and diesel prices via social media. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), in a statement, said the accused, Nur Irsalina Omar Kumar, was charged with uploading a post, edited to resemble official Buletin TV3 content, through her Threads account, “its.ellsaleena_”, on March 31. “The post contained false information about an increase in fuel prices. The act misled the public and sparked concern over the cost of living,” it said. MCMC said the court also ordered the accused to serve six months in jail if she failed to pay the fine; however, she has since paid it. The prosecution was carried out under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588), which provides for a maximum fine of RM500,000 or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, upon conviction. MCMC also stressed that the spread of false information, particularly on matters of public interest, can have negative implications for societal stability and well-being. As such, the public is advised to always verify the authenticity of information before sharing it, and to use online platforms responsibly. — Bernama

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