KUCHING: Astana Negeri Sarawak has firmly refuted the authenticity of two viral social media posts on TikTok and Facebook that misused its official crest and manipulated the image of Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, wife of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak.
Astana Negeri, in a statement, said preliminary checks revealed that a TikTok account under the name Datuk Abdul Zulaiman had uploaded an image of Toh Puan Fauziah which was altered using artificial intelligence (AI) to create the false impression that she was speaking and offering assistance.
The post also urged viewers to contact a phone number listed in the account.
Meanwhile, a Facebook account under the name Matthew Rudy was found to have misused the official logo of Astana Negeri Sarawak in posts featuring questionable content.
Astana Negeri stressed that any unauthorised use of its name, image or official symbols is a serious offence that could mislead the public and damage the institution’s reputation.
It also warned that spreading fake content, manipulating official materials, or impersonating individuals linked to government institutions could result in legal action under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and other applicable laws.
The public has been urged not to trust, follow or share any posts from the said accounts.
Astana Negeri further called on all parties to verify the authenticity of information before circulating, particularly when it involves official names or symbols of government institutions.
