PETALING JAYA, April 15 — DAP national vice-chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw has denied sending out a message warning Chinese Malaysians against posting “dirty” remarks criticising the government as they may be arrested and jailed without trial.

However, the incumbent Kepong MP said he would not be filing a police complaint over the dubious message made in his name as it would be wasting police time.

“Being in my position, fake news is a norm and this is not the first or the last time I have such a problem. However, all I can do is just let it be as the people who do this are without mercy or compassion and are just plain criminals,” he told Malay Mail when contacted last night to verify the message.

“They will continue to do so but eventually, they will be caught because they keep making mistakes,” he added.

The message that had purportedly come from Dr Tan was supposedly penned in Chinese and was addressed to “all Bro & Sis of Chinese race”, telling them not to post anti-government remarks on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp or WeChat.

“Today in KL area (Kepong & Jinjang), 9 Chinese youths have been house arrested and placed into Penjara Sungai Buloh for 60 days without court hearing. Pls share out,” the message continued, before ending with the line “By Dr Tan Seng Giaw”.

The 75-year-old said the way the message was worded was laughable, adding that it is not in his nature to post such things on social media.

“My postings are always on Facebook and the latest one is about US President Donald Trump renegotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal.

“If you read the text and compared it to my previous postings, you’ll know how ridiculous the text looks,” he said.

Dr Tan has been dropped as a DAP candidate for Kepong in the May 9 polls, a seat he has repeatedly contested and won undefeated since 1982. Taking his place is lawyer and fellow DAP colleague Lim Lip Eng who is the incumbent Segambut MP.

Asked why he thinks such tactics were being employed when he clearly is no longer in the electoral race at the next elections, Dr Tan said fake news affects politicians at all levels, regardless if they were in office or not.

“Such is politics and we have to go through it every day,” he said.