KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 18 — The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) today said action will be taken against media outlets that flout his warning not to use anonymous sources as the basis of reports on the Islamic State (IS) militant threat.
Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said such reports were impossible to corroborate and were comparable to spreading rumours that cause anxiety and chaos.
“So don’t ask me not to take action now, because I have already warned, so don’t repeat it,” he told reporters in a press conference at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman here.
“Perhaps you hear stuff from noodle seller or something and they become sources. This will create chaos in public so we want to know who these sources are as well,” he added.
Khalid appeared upset when asked whether he would also take action on a federal minister for claiming that several areas in the city centre have been identified as possible IS attack spots.
“Why are you not asking me about online media like Malaysian Insider (The Malaysian Insider), Associated Press (AP) that also spreads false news? What are you trying to do? Why are you trying to zero me (sic) only to the minister? No, you must be fair.
“Many spread these kind of news so I want to say that I have already issued a statement that all, including, anyone, from making any statement that can confuse people. So don’t keep trying to zero in on certain people, it applies to everybody,” he added.
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor reportedly said yesterday that Bangsar, Solaris and Bukit Bintang are among the locations actively targeted by terrorist groups aiming to spread fear in Malaysia.
The federal territories minister said the authorities are aware of and preparing for the threats, adding that his ministry’s enforcers were lending their resources to the police in efforts to improve security.
His statement was later rebutted by the police, who had also declared that security matters are under control, though still being kept on red alert status.
