Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has once again reminded social media users not to be gullible.

Speaking at the Malaysia Social Media Week programme in Kuala Lumpur today, Najib said social media practitioners must be fair and responsible in what they write and post.

They must also be discriminating in what they read, added the prime minister.

"Don't just believe every post and tweet. For there is so much fake news out there that the Economist magazine this week even asked if social media is a threat to democracy," said Najib.

Citing the front cover of the magazine, which reads "fake news squalor," Najib quoted the magazine which stated how efforts to debunk fake news often do not spread as far.

Najib also cited an American political strategist who had described this as one of the biggest political problems in the world.

"We must take this very seriously here in Malaysia. For we do not want anyone to take decisions based on lies, distortions and smears," Najib said.

Najib, earlier in his speech, said he values feedback given on social media as this was a sign that the government listens to the people.

But he also noted how there were people who misuse social media and blogs to spread "lies and false propaganda".

"Such as the ludicrous claims that Malaysia is going bankrupt, that it is a failed state, or that it is no longer a democracy.

"It only takes the slightest examination of the facts to realise that there is no basis to these claims at all," said Najib, once again citing the World Bank which stated that the country's economy was "proceeding from a position of strength".

Meanwhile, expressing his gratitude to today's event's co-organiser Social Media Chambers for its emphasis on responsibility and accountability in the expression of thoughts, Najib said this is what he wants to see on social media.

"You can agree with us or disagree with us. But don't dispute the facts of an economy that grew 5.7 percent in the first half of this year.

"That we were able to deliver line one of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system. Don't dispute the fact of a Malaysia that is respected and welcomed around the world, from Washington DC and Beijing to Riyadh, New Delhi and London," he added.

The government's decision to take "tough decisions" such as implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and removing subsidies, he added, must also not be disputed.

"This same spirit of being responsible and accountable should inform our approach to the digital economy that is an integral part of Malaysia's future, and an integral part of creating a prosperous, sustainable, inclusive and equitable future for all Malaysians," he said.