JOHOR BAHRU, June 28 (Bernama) – The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) has launched Semak Berita (SB), a public initiative to help verify dubious, fabricated or misused election-related content, with the pilot mechanism set to commence tomorrow in conjunction with the Johor state election.
It said Semak Berita will operate throughout the election period to facilitate rapid verification, coordination among relevant stakeholders and the dissemination of verified information to the public.
“During election periods, false information no longer appears merely as rumours. It can take the form of convincing news graphics, fabricated screenshots, misappropriated media logos, invented statements, illegitimate election results, or content generated and manipulated using artificial intelligence technologies.
“When the names and logos of legitimate media organisations are used to spread falsehoods, the damage extends beyond a single newsroom. Public trust in the entire media ecosystem is undermined,” it said in a statement today.
The MMC said updates, clarifications, and public records related to Semak Berita will be published at sb.majlismedia.my.
MMC chairperson Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, in the same statement, said Semak Berita was established to answer one clear question: whether a piece of content was genuinely published by the media organisation it claims to represent.
“The Malaysian Media Council is not an arbiter of political truth. We do not adjudicate manifestos, campaign claims, or debates between political parties.
“The line we draw is straightforward: was this content genuinely published by the newsroom in question? That is a factual matter that can be verified quickly,” she said.
Nallini said the campaign is not intended to discourage public participation, but to encourage citizens to engage more responsibly by relying on trustworthy information.
“During elections, citizens have every right to read, share, debate, and participate. But healthy participation requires trustworthy information. Before believing and before sharing, ask first: who said it, and what is the source?” she added.
Under the initiative, the MMC will serve as the principal coordinating body, with participating media organisations requested to appoint a primary verification officer and an alternate contact to enable prompt verification throughout the election period.
“When content is disputed, such as fake graphics bearing media logos, manipulated news screenshots, false claims regarding polling centres, or illegitimate election results, the MMC will assist in coordinating verification with the relevant parties,” it said.
The council stressed that Semak Berita does not confer any new powers on the MMC and does not replace the roles of newsrooms, enforcement agencies, regulators or the Election Commission. Instead, it serves as a temporary coordination mechanism during the Johor state election and will be evaluated after the completion of its pilot phase.
– BERNAMA
