MCMC: Stop spreading false information about 1MDB on social media

The public should not spread modified pictures, unverified news or any speculation regarding investigations into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) through social media, said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

In a press release Thursday morning, the MCMC said "social media" included the mobile messaging application WhatsApp.

"It is an offence to share or spread such materials as it could break the law, especially Section 211 or Section 213 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. If one is found guilty, one could face a RM50,000 fine, a one-year jail sentence or both," said the MCMC.

Under Section 211, it is an offence to provide content which is indecent, obscene, false, menacing, or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person.

Last Friday, the Wall Street Journal published a report alleging that nearly US$700mil (RM2.6bil) of funds, purportedly from the Government investment arm, had been channelled to personal bank accounts of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

Since then, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman has said that action may be taken against anyone who tries to tarnish the image of the country by criticising the Government and Najib, while an investigation has been launched, with officers from a special task force raiding the 1MDB offices at Menara IMC on Wednesday.