Najib says former PM causing fake news epidemic in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia is facing an epidemic of fake news as its former prime minister has kept on stating that the country is in the top 10 of corrupt countries, said Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Mr Najib said the former leader had been spreading allegations as facts through certain media outlets that Malaysia was among the top 10 most corrupt countries in the world.

"He has tried every method to spread fake news to any available media outlets willing to report his story for his own selfish political gain.

"When challenged to produce any evidence on his allegations, he is unable to do so," Mr Najib said at the at the United Nations Association Malaysia (UNAM) biennial dinner.

Present at the event was UNAM president Ahmad Rithauddeen.

Mr Najib said according to Transparency International's latest ranking, Malaysia was among the least corrupt countries, ranked 55th of 176.

"Another claim is that Malaysia is about to go bankrupt but the World Bank has stated that the nation's economy is progressing from a position of strength.

"Also, he (the former leader) has claimed that Malaysia is in danger of being under a dictatorship. Even his own colleague called him a dictator only last week," Mr Najib said, adding that the opposition had a significant role in parliament.

Mr Najib said the opposition had control in three states and that the Federal Government had allowed demonstrations against his administration in Malaysia.

"These are not markers of a dictatorship," he added.

He said Malaysia was a developing nation with democracy and good governance at the heart of the government policies.

He said government initiatives such as the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), the 1Malaysia concept to unite the nation and Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) to achieve a high-income nation, were all integral for good governance.

He said the government had also launched the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) as the country's next long-term development programme.

On another note, Mr Najib said Malaysia was willing to collaborate with the United Nations, World Bank and International Monetary Fund on good governance mainly in projects for other developing countries. THE NEW STRAITS TIMES