THERE is a need for enforcement agencies and social media platform providers to set up a coordination unit to tackle issues related to the 3Rs (race, religion and royalty), Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said.

He said the agencies involved included the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) – an agency under the Communications and Digital Ministry – and the police.

He said agreement on this was reached at a meeting between government agencies and social media platform providers yesterday.

He said the move is to ensure that no parties will try to exploit 3R issues to gain political support during the period of the state elections.

“We don’t want any episode of disunity due to narrow racial sentiment using arguments considered as religiously extreme or seditious and insulting to the royal institution,” he told reporters after attending the national-level Maal Hijrah 1445H/ 2023 celebration in Kuala Lumpur today.

Fahmi said this when asked whether issues related to 3Rs could not be touched on during the election period even if they are academic and intellectual in nature.

He said although the country recognises the right to freedom of speech, it does not mean that people are free to slander, instigate others into conflict and stir up 3R issues.

“I am of the view that our laws are definitely for maintaining public safety and security. The authorities are prepared to take appropriate actions to preserve peace and unity in the country,” he said. – Bernama, July 19, 2023.