The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been investigating 16 cases of social media abuse since the Special Committee to Combat Abuse of Social Media was set up in January.

Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister Jailani Johari said several websites were also blocked following the spread of slanders and malicious propaganda, dubbed as ‘terrorism perception’ on social media.

He said the dissemination of slanders and malicious propaganda was a new form of terrorism activity which could pose a threat and bring about more dangerous consequences than physical terrorism activities.

“Terrorism perception is aimed at disuniting the people, threatening political and economic stability and undermining the confidence of the people on the country’s leadership,” he added when met at the Parliament House lobby in Kuala Lumpur today.

Jailani said his ministry, the Information Department, Special Affairs Department and MCMC always played their role in combating terrorism perception via various ways, including advocation programmes and legal action.

In another development, he said the ministry was prepared to assist the home ministry and the urban wellbeing, housing and local government ministry to flush out illegal moneylending activities by tracking down the identities of illegal moneylenders.

“My ministry can assist to detect the names and identities of ‘along’ (illegal money-lenders) via the advertised telephone numbers but others relating to licence and advertisement were under the local authorities.”

- Bernama