Recently, some social media users had shared images of a press release dated 18th March  2020 which announces that a Restricted Movement Order is to be followed from 18th - 31st March.

This Press Release from Malaysia was spread on social media with claims that it is from India.

The press release reads to be from the National Security Council, Prime Minister’s Office. In an overview, people might be misled by the press release but if one reads through it, they might find terms that do not adhere to India. In the 6th point of the front page, a number of the National Security Council has been provided. The number has the country code of  03 which is not a code in India and an area code in Malaysia. On the front page, the first point under ‘Attachment A’ reads, ‘Financial Banking Services and BURSA’, where BURSA is the stock exchange of Malaysia.

Under ‘Attachment B’ the status of the second point reads, “Allowed but subject to review by JKR and DOSH” where JKR is ‘Jabatan Kerja Raya’ which is the Malaysian Public Works Department and DOSH is Department of Occupational Safety and Health in Malaysia.

The most evident detection can be the last point under 'Attachment B' which says that Malaysians working in Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia and not allowed. However, this has been conveniently cropped out by the people who have shared this Malaysian Press Release online.

Prasar Bharati News Services took Twitter to clarify that this Press Release is not of India and not from India.

The point cropped out by the social media users who spread the misleading information which mentions in the press release about Malaysians working abroad can be seen in the full document of press release attached by the Prasar Bharati News Services.

In conclusion, the Press Release claiming to be from the Prime Minister’s Office in India is misleading because it is from Malaysia. One can easily figure out its misleading by simply reading through the shared press release and also googling the terms in it. However, people who read it in overview maybe heavily misled and believe the misleading information that a Restricted Movement Order has been put. In the current time of panic over COVID19, such deliberate attempts to mislead the public and the creators of such news should be identified and taken action against.