MCMC investigates AI-altered video of Dr Mahathir grieving
Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali passed away at the age of 100 on Sept 28 and was accorded a state funeral, prompting criticisms and discussions regarding the extensive media coverage of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad while he was grieving. Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil advised citizens concerned about excessive reporting to direct their grievances to the Malaysian Media Council, as reported by Bernama.
Malaysian Media Council Complaints Channel Offered for Coverage Concerns
Fahmi stated that members of the public wishing to raise issues regarding media output should utilize official complaint avenues through the Malaysian Media Council rather than engaging in actions that could undermine industry credibility. During the same remarks, Fahmi urged journalists and media organizations to respect the privacy of the former prime minister and his family while they mourn. The communications minister noted that reporters should afford the family space during their ordeal, according to Bernama.
Concurrently, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission initiated investigations into altered digital content concerning the mourning period. Bernama reported that the regulatory body is scrutinizing social media material allegedly utilizing artificial intelligence to manipulate authentic footage of Mahathir. The commission stated that it contacted relevant social media platforms regarding the clips, warning that legal action could follow under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 if statutory breaches are detected.
Authorities Investigate AI Video of Mahathir
The regulatory inquiry centers on a 27-second black-and-white video posted on TikTok by user @vinustudio.my that accumulated over 745,000 views, 30,200 likes, and thousands of shares, as detailed by Bernama. The clip featured Mahathir wiping away tears alongside AI-generated depictions of him embracing his late wife, accompanied by emotional background music. Fahmi noted that authorities observed the account had disappeared, though officials remain uncertain whether it was a fake profile. The commission, alongside police forces, continues tracking parties responsible for producing offensive digital material.
In statements reported by Bernama, the commission stressed that manipulating genuine recordings in ways that mislead the public or undermine family dignity during bereavement is unacceptable. The agency urged users to verify digital material before sharing it and to report suspected manipulations to platforms or authorities. While acknowledging the societal benefits of artificial intelligence, the commission asserted that technology must not distort the truth or exploit personal grief at the expense of human values.
Putrajaya Media Club Police Reports Over Altered Journalist Images
Tensions surrounding public coverage also drew a formal response from professional journalism organizations. Bernama reported that the Putrajaya Media Club lodged police reports and complaints with the regulatory commission on October 2, 2026, following the circulation of an altered image depicting media personnel at Pusara Negara. The original photograph of journalists covering Mahathir’s visit to his late wife’s grave was modified to portray media workers as animals, accompanied by captions questioning common sense.
Putrajaya police chief ACP Aidi Sham Mohamed confirmed that law enforcement received the media club’s report. Authorities are investigating the incident under Section 505(c) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, as reported by Bernama. The media club emphasized that journalists received no official prohibition against recording at the gravesite and that their presence fulfilled professional duties to document matters of national significance while adhering to ethical standards of human dignity and privacy.
