May 22, 2005
SMS replacing poison-pen letters
Some Umno (United Malay National Organisation) members are using the short messaging service (SMS) to slander party leaders, reports The Star.
"Dulu surat laying, sekarang SMS untuk sebar fitnah (previously it was the poison-pen letters, now SMS is used to spread slander)," lamented Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Najib, who is Umno deputy president, said slanderous messages were also being distributed through the e-mails and Internet.
He reminded party members that using the SMS to send messages that discredit leaders was no different from the poison-pen letters of the past.
He said the intention of the SMS was to disrupt the unity within the party, be it at division or branch levels.
He said the origin of the messages could not be traced as they were sent through pre-paid mobile telephones."
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