It wasn’t us, says Fahmi

Unity government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil has denied accusations that he ordered Google to remove its currency converter widget for the ringgit.

Fahmi explained that Google deactivated the widget in response to feedback from Bank Negara Malaysia.

“I have never instructed Google to remove the currency exchange feature from the search box, as you accused.

“Google said they are still running tests with FX data provider whom they had identified and that they would restore the widget once they are confident that incidents will not reoccur,” Fahmi, who is also the Communications Minister, said via an X post.

Fahmi was responding to a social media post that accused him of directing Google to disable the widget.

On March 15, Google published an incorrect exchange rate for the US Dollar-Ringgit (USD-MYR). 

Following the error, Google Malaysia apologised for publishing the inaccurate rate and removed the currency converter widget for ringgit.