Woman Faces Fearmongering Probe Over Anti Vaccine Message

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Police said they are investigating two suspects who are believed to be anti-vaxxers.PETALING JAYA: A woman who claimed that two teenagers in Perak had died after being vaccinated is being investigated for sparking fear among the public, police said today.
The suspect is also being probed for intending to provoke a breach of the peace, federal CID director Abd Jalil Hassan said in a statement confirming that investigation papers had been opened against two people believed to be anti-vaxxers.
Last month, it was reported that the woman claimed in a video posted on social media that five teenagers had died after receiving vaccines in Perak, Sabah and at an undisclosed location.
The health ministry dismissed her allegation, clarifying that the two boys – both 17 – from Perak had comorbidities. One had diabetes and depended on insulin while the other suffered from congenital heart disease and was brought to hospital with a severe infection.
There were no deaths recorded among teenagers who had been vaccinated in Lahad Datu, Sabah.
‘The IP (investigation paper) will be referred to the state prosecutor for further action,” Jalil said.
Jalil said the second investigation paper was opened against a social media user who had linked vaccines to the deaths of 41 teachers.
The social media user, whose handle police have identified as “khalid@khalids”, is being probed for defamation, incitement and improper use of network facilities.
“The IP is still with the police as we are awaiting a profiling report from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).”
Earlier today, home minister Hamzah Zainudin said the authorities were identifying provisions in the existing laws that can be used against the anti-vaccination groups.”We will study the police reports to see which laws they have violated and the category of the offences, among others,” he said.
Asked if the government was considering a specific law to deal with anti-vaxxers, Hamzah said that will also be decided in due course. - FMT

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