KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — Ten independent groups and non-governmental organisations today pledged to support Umno by becoming “keyboard warriors” to fend off allegations against Datuk Seri Najib Razak on social media sites.

Umno information technology chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan, who chaired a two-hour long meeting with the groups, said he was thankful for their offer to defend the prime minister and Umno president online.

“These groups will operate independently to deflect allegations made against the PM with accurate facts and figures,” he told a press conference after the closed door meeting at the Umno headquarters here.

Ahmad named Persatuan Jurutera Melayu Professional, Mawaddah Wanita Malaysia, Alumni Kelab Umno Luar Negara, Persona Selangor and Alumni 4B Kebangsaan as among the groups that would supplement to the Umno’s social media team.

When asked how the groups would help the Umno social media team, Ahmad said they were to work on their own to counter allegations made against the country’s top leadership.

“These groups are not here to spread lies or defame anyone but are here to counter each allegations with facts as Umno does not condone to the act of spreading rumours,” he said.

The groups that were present did not wish to speak to the media before the meeting took place, indicating fear that their comments would be taken out of context.

On the #respectmyPM campaign, which has received mixed response online, Ahmad said the movement was not created by Umno or any of the 10 groups that are to be its “keyboard warriors”.

“That hashtag was created by another group and if you ask me, I think it was a good move and we encourage more of such groups to collaborate with us to help spread the truth,” he said.