An UMNO Supreme Council member has called for the party's divisions and branches to activate their IT bureaus in preparation for the next general election.

Datuk Ahmad Maslan said they would have to use the bureaus to counter the slander that would go viral on social media as the general election got closer.

"The UMNO IT bureaus were established last year, and each division has at least 40 committee members from the four party wings.

"I hope they can be activated to disseminate positive information over social media to the people," said Ahmad, who is UMNO IT Bureau chief, at a press conference after simultaneously opening the group annual general meetings of the Bukit Katil UMNO Division near here last night.

Also present at the event was Bukit Katil UMNO Division chief Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam.

Ahmad, who is deputy minister of international trade and industry, said he hoped that all the party's group annual general meetings would discuss the grassroots' preparation for the general election.

He praised the initiative of the Communications and Multimedia Ministry and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to set up the SEBENARNYA.MY portal that could serve as a reference for the people.

"The SEBENARNYA.MY portal enables the people to check the authenticity of news that goes viral on social media. They can pose their questions through the portal," he said. -- BERNAMA