Rumours, fake news, slander or whatever you call them, one should always think twice before spreading them. Spreading misinformation or false accusation can very much get you in trouble with the law or just simply cancelled by the internet.
Recently, a Facebook user that goes by the name of Khairul Fikri posted an apology after spreading fake news that former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah have close connections with Siti Bainun who is accused of child abuse.
In his original post, Khairul made a claim that Siti Bainun’s father is the former Menteri Besar of Selangor and is related to former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir. Khairul wasn’t the only one who made this claim as another Facebook user Hafiz Noor said the same thing in his post. .
Their claims without fact checks caught the attention of “Saya Sayang Tun Dr Mahathir” Facebook page where the admin shared both posts made by the two and clarified that these are all fake news and slander. In the page’s post, the admin urged Khairul and Hafiz to apologise to the former Prime Minister’s family for spreading slander.
“The act of associating someone with another for the purpose of creating unwanted attention and speculations is very disgusting and spiteful,” they said. Not long after the post went viral, Khairul posted an apology on his Facebook for the false accusations while Hafiz is still remaining silent. Both original posts by Khairul and Hafiz have been deleted.
Meanwhile, Founder of Rumah Bonda, Siti Bainun pleaded not guilty on all charges; two counts of neglecting and abusing Bella, a teenage girl with Down Syndrome, between February and June 2021, which resulted to the victim suffering physical and emotional injuries.
The charges against her are under Section 31 (1) (a) of the Children Act 2001 which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment or a fine of RM50,000 or both, if convicted.
