Personal attack likely over fake claim of investigations into PSD DG, says Bukit Aman

KUALA LUMPUR: According to Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, a personal attack is believed to be the reason behind the issuance of a fake statement stating that an investigation was being conducted against Public Services Department (PSD) director-general Datuk Dr Zulkapli Mohamed. The Bukit Aman CID director mentioned that the police have obtained statements from 10 individuals regarding the investigation. Comm Mohd Shuhaily further stated that the fake statement seems to be more of a personal attack against the PSD director-general and the Chief Secretary to the Government. These remarks were made during a press conference on Monday (Aug 28). He added that the case is currently being investigated under Section 504 of the Penal Code, which deals with intentional insult and provocation leading to public disturbance or the commission of other offenses, as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, which covers the improper use of networking facilities.

The circulation of the fake statement on social media claiming that investigations were being conducted on Zulkapli was widely reported. Subsequently, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the statement was indeed false. In an official statement released on July 26, the Prime Minister’s Office clarified that no such statement was ever issued by the PMO on July 25. The PMO denounced this act as having been performed with malicious intent and the intention to mislead the public. It also advised the people to refrain from sharing such information if they were uncertain about its authenticity.

It is alleged that the motive behind the fake statement was to defame and discredit the PSD director-general and the Chief Secretary to the Government. As a result, the police are treating this case as a personal attack. The investigation has progressed with the taking of statements from 10 individuals, whose testimonies are expected to shed light on the matter. The police are focusing their investigation on identifying the culprits responsible for the circulation of the fake statement.

The fraudulent statement’s impact has brought attention to the need for stricter enforcement of laws such as Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act. These laws aim to deter and penalize individuals who engage in activities that incite public discord and misuse networking facilities to disseminate false information. The police’s efforts in addressing this issue demonstrate the seriousness with which such offenses are treated.

This incident highlights the importance of verifying information before sharing it on social media platforms. The public is urged to exercise caution and refrain from spreading unverified news, as it can lead to confusion and cause unnecessary panic. The responsibility lies with individuals to ensure the authenticity of the information they encounter online.