Don't use social media to argue, shame others, says MY King

The King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has reminded the public not to use social media platforms to argue, embarrass or shame others. This is because these actions only contribute to division and conflict, he said.  

Speaking at the national-level Maal Hijrah 2024/1446H celebration at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, the King said that Malaysians are challenged with the influx of information through social media, which is difficult to regulate. 

He added that the public should exercise caution when seeking religious knowledge on social media and ensure that the information is authentic.

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In tandem, he reminded Muslims in Malaysia to learn how to distinguish between right and wrong and emphasised that the spread of inaccurate religious information on social media can lead to confusion and deviations from the practices and teachings of Islam. 

The King also urged the government to enhance enforcement measures against deviant content and establish a religious reference centre to disseminate accurate religious information. 

He later added that all Malaysians should not use differences in race, ethnicity and culture as an excuse to create misunderstandings amongst each other. He called on all Malaysians to strengthen the spirt of brotherhood in order to shape a united future generation for the country. 

In addition, the King said he has noticed a proliferation of diverse Islamic beliefs and teachings that only serve to divide Muslims and are driven by personal interests, adding that if this trend continues, Muslims will not be able to unite. 

The King finally urged all Muslims to abandon bad habits and practices that are not aligned with the teachings of the Quran. 

Social media has been a hot topic in Malaysia as of late, particularly when it comes to media freedom and the use of the technology to cause conflict and inflict hurt towards certain racial and religious groups in the country. 

Most recently, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said that it is reportedly investigating viral posts from a social media account named @BolaTribe that touched on sensitive issues related to the 3Rs (race, religion and the royal institution). 

Speaking at a signing ceremony between MCMC and the Malaysian investment development authority (Mida), communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said that there is a strong possibility that the account is fake and has circulated posts containing content that could incite disharmony within society, reported Bernama.  

According to The Star, Buddhists and Taoists were reportedly disturbed by the circulation of inappropriate images of temples and shrines by "Bola Tribe". A majority of netizens have also expressed concerns and called for action against the perpetrator, added The Star.  

Searches by A+M reveal that the @BolaTribe account no longer exists on X. 

Photo courtesy of the King, Facebook

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