AG should clear up alleged 'troll farm' probe, says Gobind

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo has urged Attorney-General Idrus Harun to state if it is legally proper for the police to be probing its own alleged troll farm that was revealed by a Meta report.

“On Aug 6, it was reported that the police were allegedly linked to a troll farm promoting the government and criticising its detractors.

“It was also reported that Meta had in its Quarterly Adversarial Threat Report, claimed that about 1,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as Facebook groups and pages, were removed for violating its policy against coordinated inauthentic behaviour.

“The allegations made by Meta are serious in nature and of public interest,” said Gobind.

He said that although the police had openly denied the allegations, Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani on Sept 13 said the force would investigate the matter.

“Whilst we welcome a probe into the matter, the question is whether it is proper for the police to probe matters in which they themselves are said to be involved.

“It is also perhaps important to ask if there is a delay in the investigation, and if so, whether it has to do with an internal probe which may be contaminated with conflict.

“It is also important to note that the police have already denied the allegation even before the probe was completed. Would there not in these circumstances be a conflict on part of the police to probe the matter?” asked Gobind.

The former communications and multimedia minister said the attorney-general must set matters right and direct that an independent probe be launched into the allegations.

“It would be best if persons not directly connected to the police and the allegations decide if there is any basis to it.

“As the matter is one of public interest involving the integrity of the police force, it would be best if any such probe also be made public so as to enhance its transparency and credibility,” he added.

COMMENT | The need to arrest and detain must be done judiciously  

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