IT has become the norm for people to immediately forward "news" of accidents, sinkholes and significant damage to structures like bridges without verifying the facts.
The messages then go viral but eventually turn out not to be recent incidents or even in our country, and sometimes completely false.
Recently, an audio recording that went viral claimed there were cracks on the Pekan Tanjung Karang Bridge in Kuala Selangor.
Was the message authentic?
VERDICT:
FALSE
The Kuala Selangor Public Works Department (JKR) has refuted the claims in the message.
"The message that there are cracks and the bridge is not safe to use is not true," it said on Facebook on Wednesday (April 19).
It said checks found that there were no such cracks and the bridge was in fact safe to use.
"The department is also in the process of reporting the matter to the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to ensure the individual responsible is brought to book.
"It is irresponsible to send such messages which may cause uneasiness among the public," it added.
