Communications and Multimedia Minister Said Keruak today called on all members of BN Youth wings to become the coalition’s cybertroopers to aggressively counter the opposition’s allegations and curb the spread of fake news.

Salleh, who is also Kota Belud BN chairperson, said the cybertroopers also had an important role to play in explaining to the people about any particular issue so that they would not make a wrong decision when casting their votes in the forthcoming general election.

He said today’s political landscape had changed tremendously as allegations and fake news were being spread through the use of smartphones and social media, compared with just through poison-pen letters previously.

“So, each of you must become a cybertrooper to counter the opposition’s malicious statements and allegations, not to help them spread fake news,” he said.

Salleh, who is also Umno treasurer, said this at the Kadamaian BN Youth Brigade machinery meet-and-greet programme in Kota Belud today.

The minister said if the BN Youth cybertroopers succeeded in explaining all issues and countering all allegations and fake news, public confidence in BN’s capability would improve and the people would have no problem to give their mandate to the coalition in the coming general election.

This is because the voters comprised those who vote based on party factor and those who vote based on issues and their surrounding factors, he said.

He said those who vote based on party factor would hardly cause any problem as most of them were strong supporters of the party, but those who vote based on issues and surrounding factors needed to be tackled wisely and strategically.

“That is why the BN machinery should understand and take into consideration the reasons the voters vote. Give them answers and explain to them about all issues,” Salleh added.

-  Bernama