In a post on X, Zaid said it was unnecessary for Fahmi, as a minister, to call MCMC chairman Salim Fateh Din out on a public platform, adding that it was “tantamount to a public rebuke”.

“He publicly ordered the MCMC chairman to act on what he called abuses on social media platforms, as if the chairman had not done so.

“The commission has its own way of dealing with the issues. Respect their professionalism,” the former Kota Bharu MP urged Fahmi.

During his speech at the Jiwa Merdeka event, Fahmi had urged the MCMC chairman to “do something” about the rising number of social media issues such as scams, the spread of fake news, and cyberbullying.

“Tan Sri (Salim), in front of everyone, including the prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim), the chief secretary to the government (Zuki Ali) and members of the Cabinet, I am instructing you to do something,” said the unity government spokesman.

Fahmi had hinted that “very firm” action will be taken against social media platforms within the next few days over the issues that have arisen.