Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman urges irresponsible quarters to stop sharing false news involving the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) on the political climate in the state through social media, especially WhatsApp.

He said such acts would mislead the public and at the same time jeopardised the stability of Terengganu due to being influenced by news which were not authentic.

"Most importantly, I am told today the the police and MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) have conducted investigations into all these issues. So, I hope the irresponsible quarters will be identified.

"I want the person who is responsible for this to be dragged to face justice so that it will be a lesson and no more slander can shake the stability of the country," he told reporters when asked to comment on a false news item headlined 'Sultan Mizan Kembalikan Darjah Kebesaran Kepada MB Terengganu' (Sultan Mizan Restores Terengganu MB State Awards), Kuala Nerus, yesterday.

The article which was spread since yesterday morning had quoted Bernama as the source and its Terengganu bureau chief, Zalina Maizan Ngah, as the writer.

Zalina Maizan later denied that she wrote the article and would lodge a report and complaint to the Royal Malaysian Police and the MCMC, respectively on the dissemination of false news concerned.

In the meantime, Ahmad Razif advised the public especially the people in the state to not easily be influenced by articles or any information that had been disseminated through social media without verifying the authenticity of the news.

"What is important now is to move forward and most importantly, how we want to develop Terengganu and (how) the people would benefit," he said.

On March 11, Zalina Maizan lodged a police report for the first time on a false news article quoting Bernama as the source headlined 'Rosli Sedia Jadi Penggerak Puteri Umno Terengganu' (Rosli Prepared To Be Terengganu Puteri Umno Mover).

On April 20, a second report was lodged concerning the article 'PAS Terengganu Siap Sedia Hadapi Pilihan Raya Negeri' (Terengganu PAS Ready To Face State Election).

She had again lodged a police report on May 4 concerning the article headlined 'Umno Terengganu Berdepan Laluan Sukar Hadapi Pilihan Raya - Veteran' (Terengganu Umno Facing A Difficult Path For The Election - Veteran).

On May 16, Zalina Maizan lodged another report over two articles headlined 'Najib Tangguh Lawatan Rasmi ke Terengganu' (Najib Postpones Official Visit to Terengganu' and 'SKMM Tahan Empat Individu Kes Sebar Berita Palsu' (MCMC Detains Four Individuals On Spreading False News).

- Bernama