UMNO’S cyber army needs to improve its credibility by including sources in their social media postings so they will not be accused of spreading fake news, said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin. 

The youth and sports minister also said he did not want the Umno cyber army to be compared to ‘the other side’, who spreads fake news without sources.

He was referring to a picture of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad hugging two men which went viral on social media recently.

“Do not simply believe everything that is posted on social media, check the sources first.

“It is important to check your sources. For example, the picture that came out a few days ago which showed Dr Mahathir hugging two of his bodyguards.

“Coupled with the news that the government is pulling back Dr Mahathir’s personal security detail, people have been saying that the government is being cruel.

“But that picture was from last year and has nothing to do with his bodyguards,” he said during his speech at the Umno Social Media Convention in PWTC today.

Putrajaya on Wednesday decided to withdraw Dr Mahathir’s bodyguards, which was seen as the latest retaliatory move against the former prime minister since he became the government’s top critic and Pakatan Harapan’s chairman.

After the picture went viral, condemnation flooded in against the government and many have expressed sympathy for the 92-year-old.

Khairy also urged the Umno cyber army to be more aggressive in countering fake news.

Meanwhile, he told the 4,500 cybertroopers that they must also criticise the Selangor budget for giving three-month bonuses to state civil servants.

Khairy said this was suspicious as Selangor had already paid a two-month bonus during Hari Raya.

“The three-month bonus may not be what it seems. Some say a two-month bonus had already been given during Hari Raya. I’m not sure, but if it had already been given then it is an issue.

“They (opposition) say the Selangor government is better than the federal government. They gave a three-month bonus but a two-month bonus had already been given previously,” he said.

The bonus was one of the incentives of Selangor’s Budget 2018, which was tabled by Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali yesterday. – November 4, 2017.