Malaysia’s PM Anwar urges crackdown on fake news over fuel prices

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KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on the country’s enforcement agencies to step up action against what his government sees as false claims about fuel and electricity prices as it seeks to shore up public confidence amid a global energy crunch.

The communications regulator has identified 96 posts of misleading content circulating on social media, he said.

Mr Anwar urged authorities, including police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, to take action against those spreading what he described as misinformation.

“We are operating under extraordinary circumstances with mounting challenges, yet this does not stop those who continue to lie, spread hatred, sabotage and betray,” he said in a video message late on April 1.

The government is spending about RM4 billion (S$1.28 billion) a month to absorb the surge in global oil prices.

It has kept the subsidised price of Malaysia’s most widely used petrol at RM1.99 per litre, among the lowest in the world. It has, however, cut the monthly quota by about a third to 200 litres per citizen.

“Of course our capacity is limited and we must also look at the experiences of other countries,” he said.

Employees of government ministries, agencies and state-owned companies will work from home starting on April 15 as the government seeks to safeguard Malaysia’s energy security, he said.

Energy giant Petroliam Nasional Bhd. is working to ensure that Malaysia has enough oil and gas to last through at least May, Mr Anwar said.

Petronas is coordinating with relevant authorities to secure domestic supply while accelerating efforts to boost crude production, the Edge Malaysia reported on April 1. BLOOMBERG