Labuan:Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil has urged social media users to refrain from spreading unverified information ahead of the Prime Minister's Budget 2027 speech. He highlighted the risks of circulating misleading graphics, manipulated images, or content falsely presented as official announcements.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fahmi emphasized the importance of being wary of materials that misuse photographs or logos of news organizations to falsely authenticate information. He expressed concerns about parties attempting to pre-empt the Prime Minister's speech using social media and urged the public to rely on official sources.

He advised the public to watch the live broadcast of the Prime Minister's Budget 2027 speech on various media platforms and compare circulating information with reports from established media like Bernama and Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM). Fahmi stressed the importance of verifying information before believing or sharing it, even if it seems convincing or bears a news organization's logo.

Fahmi also encouraged social media users to report suspicious or fake content to the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for prompt action. Additionally, he announced a joint awareness program by MCMC and the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) in Labuan, expected on October 31, to educate the community about scam tactics.

The program aims to equip the people of Labuan with knowledge on scam methods, protective measures, and immediate steps to take if they fall victim to scams. Fahmi underscored the importance of public awareness to help communities identify and respond to suspicious activities early, minimizing financial losses.