Prime Minister Hun Sen has renewed calls for the people to help fight against fake news in the Kingdom, saying citizens need to be brave in response to the problem.

The reiteration comes after the Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith and a Ministry of Justice spokesman told officials to investigate a group of people involved in spreading false information about Covid-19.

Presiding over a graduation ceremony with 3,458 Vanda Institute students at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Centre, the prime minister called on people not to be so afraid that they lose their sense of reasoning.

He said the people should be vigilant amid the circulation of false information from anonymous people, and requested that they be brave and consider how to correctly approach problems such as Covid-19.

“I renew my call to the people not to be afraid of the issues they face. We have to be brave to overcome our problems, especially fake news and not let it overcome us.

“They say that the disease has broken out in Phnom Penh. However, nobody is sick in Phnom Penh city. Therefore, we must look at the facts to overcome this fake news, and people have to participate in stopping its spread.

“Each person may have different beliefs, some believe, some don’t. I ask those who believe it to come forward and prove it, otherwise do not share unfounded rumours.

“We see people posting and sharing it, spreading the fear. That is an issue, as fear excessively leads to disaster,” he said.

Citing measures in France and Germany, the prime minister said that a gathering of more than 1,000 people was not allowed. Meanwhile, Italy has blocked 16 million people from leaving and entering areas infected by the virus.

But the prime minster on Tuesday was meeting with more than 3,500 students and guests of honour at the ceremony. He said this is one thing that Cambodia will still continue to do.

He said that Cambodia had prepared a budget of $800 million to $2 billion to contain the spread of Covid-19 in Cambodia.

Meanwhile, Kanharith on Monday urged officials of all departments to monitor a group of people accused of spreading fake news, and to take legal action if necessary.

“Officials of all departments have to work together to continue combating fake news on social media. Fake news misleads the public and pollutes society, especially regarding Covid-19.

“Some people have posted false news, which only impacts society negatively,” he said.

He said national broadcast institutions need to ensure they disseminate information and news they receive from the Ministry of Health widely, as the information was verified and assessed correctly with scientific backing.

Ministry of Justice spokesperson Kim Santepheap said: “To participate in stopping the false news that is causing fear among the public, Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vathana has ordered prosecutors across the country to implement strict legal measures against those who create and spread false news.”

On March 9, the Meanchey district police force in collaboration with police forces of the Anti-Cybercrime Office of the Phnom Penh municipal police arrested a man after he posted a video relating to the virus.

A report from the police said the suspect was a 35-year-old resident of Chak Angre Leu commune in the capital. The online seller had posted the Covid-19 related video clip on a Facebook account under the name “Tep Visal”.

Phnom Penh police chief Sar Thet said on Tuesday: “We have already built a case file on the suspect. He will be sent to court today for the crime of incitement.

“This case is punishable by one to two years’ imprisonment under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code.”