DEPUTY Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has asked the Digital Communications Ministry, through the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), to monitor social media posts with race and religion-based narratives used by politicians.

Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said that according to a report by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), politicians were using race and religion issues on social media for their political mileage.

“This (action) creates a division between members of different parties, who are followers of the same faith. I hope the ministry, through the MCMC, can monitor postings or writings that point in that direction,” he said in a press conference after the Department of Community Development (Kemas) Pre-Tahfiz Kindergarten with Community town hall session, in Putrajaya today.

The media reported that offensive racial and religious narratives and discrimination, instigated by politicians, dominated social media platforms in the country during the general election (GE).

These were among the main findings in the social media monitoring of the GE report by the CIJ, in collaboration with Nottingham University Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

In terms of the development of a country, Zahid said the culture of respecting religion and race needs to be practised by all parties despite having different political beliefs.

“We can have different opinions and we celebrate them with good morals,” he said, adding that the unity government is committed to strengthening the harmony of the people of this country.

Commenting on the actions of those who use the narratives of Islam being threatened and undermined, Zahid said the government’s commitment to matters enshrined in the Federal Constitution has never been hampered.

Zahid who is also Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president, stressed that there was no invitation by party leaders offering PAS the option to join the unity government.

He said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim clearly stated yesterday that there was no decision, discussion or appointed person to negotiate and invite PAS to join the government.

Recently, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man issued a statement that several parties had contacted and met him to make an offer to join the unity government, echoing what was previously revealed by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang. – Bernama, May 31 2023.