False and fake news is the cancer of journalism, says Prime Minister Najib Razak in reminding the media of its duty to report the facts so as not to betray the trust of the readers.

He said false news could have serious effects, citing as example the US$7 billion (RM30.9 billion) Saudi Aramco investment in the Petronas Pengerang Integrated Complex, which was almost wrecked by a former leader’s lies about the state of the Malaysian economy – lies that were amplified by the media.

Najib, who was speaking at the 16th Asian Media Awards Gala Dinner in Kuala Lumpur this evening, said some people had even been convinced by the false news spread by the government’s opponents.

“This is not confined to Malaysian social media. A well-known foreign newspaper has taken to printing complete lies about the government. They did that, for instance, about the appointment of a new governor for Bank Negara last year,” he said, adding that the false reports also targeted the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“All without a shred of evidence, and based solely on nameless, anonymous sources who may not even exist. And multiple sources, including independent authorities, that don’t fit into their narrative – they brazenly ignore.”

He urged the Malaysian media to stick to the facts, saying: “The government of Malaysia will be on your side. All we ask in return is the opportunity to remind you to rely – in your reporting and sourcing, in whichever country that may be – not on rumours, not on unsourced anonymous quotes, and not on invented propaganda, no matter now persuasively it may be presented, but on verified facts.

“We have no fear of the facts for they are undisputed.” – April 19, 2017.