Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom today reminded Muslims not to abuse social media and become 'keyboard warriors' in spreading slander including on the issue of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 1MDB.

Jamil, said before the advent of the Internet, people spread gossip by using   their tongues but now they are using their fingers via keyboards to spread such news.

“People have reduced using their tongues to bicker about people but now they are using their fingers. The fingers have become keyboard warriors in using WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, MMS and text messages.

“What more about saying something which is untrue like sitting to talk about 1MDB and have others comment (on your pos). And then commenting on Xavier Andre Justo being arrested ,” said the minister.

Jamil told this to reporters after handing out Hari Raya Aidilfitri gifts to patients warded at the Tuanku Mizan Army Hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

The minister said the spreading of false news by Muslims would certainly reduce the deeds gained by them when fasting as what is spread via social media would last forever on the web.

“Such actions would reduce the deeds gained from fasting and even clicking on a  a 'Like' would also receive the sin.

“What else if you forward (the slander) or comment on it. If what is said from using the tongue can be forgiven, what is typed in website remains there,” he warned.