Malaysian Minister Of Home Affairs Responds To The Issue Of Kuala Lumpur Is Not Safe For Tourists In The Aftermath Of Road Ambles To Bury Indian Citizens

Illustration of sinkholes or subsidence roads on Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Between)

JAKARTA - Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail asked the public to stop spreading false news or hoaxes about Kuala Lumpur being unsafe for tourists.

The hoax circulated on social media (medsos) shortly from Indians buried alive after being dragged into the collapsed road in Kuala Lumpur.

"It has become our concern that while this country is focusing on sewers that result in casualties, a small number of irresponsible netizens spread fake news," he said, quoted from The Sun Daily, Sunday, September 1.

Saifuddin said the hoax created panic and unrest in the community. He emphasized that the criminal threat awaits the spread of information whose truth cannot be accounted for.

"It only creates unnecessary panic. I urge this to be stopped immediately. If those responsible are identified, the police will take legal action for spreading fake news that causes fear and unrest in the community," he said.

The spread of this hoax began after the incident collapsed on Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur on August 23, 2024.

At that time, an Indian tourist named G. Vijaya Lakshmi, 48 years old, fell into a hole eight meters deep while the road she was traveling on in Kuala Lumpur collapsed.

The disaster management team continues to search for the whereabouts of these Indians, but until now the results are still nil.

"Let the authorities carry out their duties without interference from unauthorized comments from netizens," he stressed.

Earlier, the Minister in Malaysia's Department of Prime Minister ( federal area), Zaliha Mustafa announced that the Indian search and rescue operation had now shifted to the search and rescue stage.