MCA and Gerakan has urged action against those who spread rumours on DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang's death.

“Aghast” by the “sick” rumours, MCA publicity chairperson Chai Kim Sen, however, said that BN leaders, too, suffered from “malicious” rumour-mongering.

“I am aghast at this rumour and I can understand how DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng feels, because it is awful and terrible to be cursed or defamed...

“At the same time, I also urge Guan Eng to remember the proverb 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you' before he condemns anyone,” he said in a statement.

In particularly, Chai (left) urged Guan Eng, who is Kit Siang's son, to advise DAP backers to “stop spreading baseless rumous or issue defamatory statements”.

“This is because Pakatan leaders have not been the only victims of such rumours which were spread through SMS, the internet and on Facebook.

“BN leaders too suffered, especially during the 2013 general election whereby pro-Pakatan websites had defamed and even cursed MCA and BN leaders to die,” he said.

He was responding to rumours circulating online and through instant messaging applications that Kit Siang had died after this visit to the  Institute Jantung Negara last week for a medical check-up.

The DAP veteran was discharged from the institution and given a clean bill of health.

Stop the hoaxes

Meanwhile, Penang Gerakan secretary Oh Teong Keong said that the spreading of such rumours is “uncultured and evil” and should be stopped.

He urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), police and netizens to work together to "curb and prevent this bad culture from poisoning our society".

"The authorities must take immediate and effective action to stop similar incidents from spreading in social media and virtual space," Oh (right) urged in a statement today.

"Netizens should always verify the validity of news and contents, especially those being posted in social media," he added.

He said while Malaysians should embrace freedom of speech with responsibility, they must dispel false statements, rumors, curses and hoaxes.

"Political leaders should lead by example, to post and tweet responsibly as well as monitor the actions of their members," he added.

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'Kit Siang rumours sick, but BN suffers, too'