Police have warned the public not to simply spread fake news over Facebook, WhatsApp and short message service (SMS), which claimed that a girl was abducted to be killed for her internal organs in Barat Daya here.

Barat Daya police chief Supt Lai Fah Hin said this was because the spread of the fake news had shocked and scared the majority of residents in the district.

"As the district police chief, I strongly deny the news about the abduction of a girl to be killed for her internal organs which had gone viral in Facebook, WhatsApp and SMS now.

"In fact, I want to confirm that there is no such incident reported in Barat Daya. The news is a fake and was fabricated by irresponsible quarters," he said in a statement here today.

He also called on all Facebook and WhatsApp account holders not to believe in such news, let alone to spread it unchecked.

He said rumour-mongers who were found to have spread fake news and making statements that caused public panic could face a legal action under the Penal Code or the Communication and Multimedia Act.er