IOW programme is 'very appropriate' - Deputy minister

SEPANG, Jan 31  -- The filling of the ‘Info on Wheels’ (IOW) programme which focuses on issues related to the 2019 novel coronavirus is very appropriate as they have become the focus of the public, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin.

He said that, although the IOW programme, managed by the Department of Information, was initiated to explain the successes and policies of the government, but its focus on coronavirus issues had become important currently especially following the spread of fake news linked to the infection.

Citing Sepang as an example, Mohamed Hanipa said the dissemination of accurate information on coronavirus is crucial for the communities in the district as they are in the country's main entry areas, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and KLIA2.

"The effort to educate the people through the IOW programme truly helps the public to understand what coronavirus is. So, they are not duped by fake news concerning coronavirus on social media," he said when met at the IOW programme in Kampung Baharu Lanjut here today.

Mohamed Hanipa, who is also Sepang Member of Parliament, also visited the houses of village residents accompanied by Selangor Department of Information director Ali Suhaili.

In the meantime, Ali said the Selangor Information Department had drafted a programme with the communities in nine districts in the state to disseminate leaflets and the latest information on coronavirus infection.

Towards this end, he said the IOW programme’s content was focused on providing clarification on coronavirus in areas of focus of the communities such as night markets, farmers’ markets and supermarkets in a scheduled manner and on a daily basis, starting from Jan 28.

The focus on the dissemination of information on coronavirus would be implemented until the country is declared free of the outbreak, he said, adding that, so far, the IOW programme had been implemented in ten parliamentary constituencies in Selangor.

-- BERNAMA