Kidu: State media message worrying

OPPOSITION leader Dame Carol Kidu is concerned about a government newspaper advertisement saying people spreading malicious and misleading information “will be dealt with”.
The advertisement was authorised by the prime minister’s media unit and was published in both dailies on Monday.
It stated that the spreading of malicious and misleading information was a serious crime and those found doing it “will be dealt with”, according to the prime minister’s chief of staff Ben Micah.
His comments followed the alleged recent circulation of anti-government information via text messages on mobile phones, email and comments posted on the social network site, Facebook.
The statement said the military, police and the National Intelligence Organisation and other pro-government civilian networks were monitoring attempts to destabilise the government’s control of the country.
“All patriots and law-abiding citizens are required to be vigilant,” it said.
“I urge you all to separate rumours from facts and report any suspicious events to the prime minister’s office, the deputy prime minister’s office, police, PNGDF, the office of the chief secretary or to your local MP. 
“Such information includes any information which you consider to be illegal and detrimental to the peace and good order of your community and subversive top the overall security of our nation.”
Dame Carol suggested that the prime minister’s media unit should be more careful about the type of language it used.
She described the statement as “a worrying press release”.
She asked if the unit could clarify what they meant by using the terms “dealt with”.