Kuala Lumpur: Social media influencers should exercise restraint and avoid sensationalising content merely for views, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said. He was responding to a recent case involving a local influencer who created social media content claiming that a friend had ‘gone missing’ in a forest in Indonesia. Fahmi, who is also spokesperson for the Unity Government, said the matter has been handed over to the relevant authorities for further action.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fahmi urged media representatives to refer to Wisma Putra for official updates since the incident occurred abroad. He advised influencers to be mindful and responsible when creating content for their audience, cautioning them against going overboard. Fahmi emphasized that this incident should serve as a lesson for everyone to improve their approach to content creation.

Fahmi highlighted that sometimes content may not reflect the actual situation, but netizens are quick to conduct their investigations. He noted that some influencers had obtained verification about the case, but if enforcement authorities are involved, they should be allowed to conduct the investigation. Fahmi addressed questions regarding whether the government had received any reports about the influencer and whether the ministry planned to take any action.

Furthermore, Fahmi pointed out that while influencers are not subject to licensing, they should uphold ethical standards in their content. He reminded that although influencers and content creators are not licensed, it is crucial to learn from this situation and avoid producing such content or engaging in similar actions.