August 2, 2024
KUALA LUMPUR – Meta Platforms Inc (Meta), which owns and runs Facebook and Instagram, has come under fire from the Cabinet for removing official social media posts by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination.In his latest post on Facebook, the Prime Minister urged Meta to stop acting as instruments of the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime.
Meanwhile, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has been tasked with seeking a full explanation from Meta about the deleted postings which included pictures of Anwar meeting Haniyeh, Hamas’ political bureau chief, in May.
In Anwar’s latest Facebook post, he slammed Meta for being rude and insulting to the Palestinian people’s struggle after it once again removed videos, messages of condolences and criticism of Haniyeh’s assassination.
Anwar said it was unreasonable to consider social media posts honouring a fighter striving to liberate his homeland from oppression and suffering as dangerous.
“Let this serve as a clear and unequivocal message to Meta: Cease this display of cowardice and stop acting as instruments of the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime!” Anwar wrote, according to Bernama.
A check on the Prime Minister’s Instagram account revealed that three of his posts on Wednesday condemning the killing of Haniyeh in Iran had been removed.
Also removed were posts on Anwar’s and Haniyeh’s meeting in Doha, Qatar, in May.
The removed posts was stamped with the caption: “Dangerous individuals and organisations”.
Separately, the Media and Strategic Communications Division of the Prime Minister’s Office stated in a Facebook post that Meta’s actions were discriminatory against Palestine and its leaders.
“Therefore, we demand an explanation regarding this matter and urge Meta to apologise,” said the statement, which was also shared on the Prime Minister’s other official social media accounts.
Anwar first shared pictures of his meeting with Hamas leaders, including Haniyeh in Qatar on May 14, but Meta removed the post.
The social media giant subsequently restored the post after it was criticised.
Meanwhile at his weekly press conference, Fahmi said that he was still waiting for a response from Meta on why it had deleted those posts.
“The government certainly regrets the action taken by Meta. I have requested an explanation from Meta as to why only the post or content uploaded on the official account of the Prime Minister was targeted.
“At this moment, there are several possibilities, including it being taken down automatically by the media platform itself or as a result of public complaints.
“So far, we have not yet received a full explanation and we are awaiting a response from Meta,” said the unity government’s spokesperson yesterday.
Fahmi added that a post by Bernama Radio was also taken down.
“If any of our media colleagues have experienced the same issue, please inform the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission so that efforts can be made to restore the posting.
“I would like to emphasize here that each social media platform has their own community guidelines or standard guidelines, and they may have acted based on those guidelines in taking down or restricting content.
“We will wait for an explanation from Meta,” added Fahmi.