NEW Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said the government will continue efforts by its predecessor to enact a freedom of information (FoI) act.

“We have to have balance. Freedom of the media must be upheld but we cannot compromise on fake news,” he told reporters at the ministry in Putrajaya today.

“The nitty-gritty of how we operationalise it will be discussed, but I can assure that I will continue to uphold freedom of speech, regardless of which party I belong to,” he said.

Pakatan Harapan made enacting a FoI law one of its promised reforms when it took power in 2018. However, it was toppled two weeks ago after a bloc of PH MPs realigned to form a new Malay-Muslim dominant coalition.

Saifuddin was a PKR leader who defected to support sacked deputy party president Mohamed Azmin Ali’s bid to form a new government with Barisan Nasional, PAS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak.

PH’s prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in July last year said a FoI act would replace the Official Secrets Act 1972.

Saifuddin added that Malaysia is on track for the commercial roll-out 5G technology in the third quarter of 2020. 

“It will continue, but since Prime Minister Muhiyiddin Yassin mentioned yesterday that they are trying to review some additions, we will be talking to the Finance Ministry on what the situation is.

In January, Dr Mahathir, had launched the 5G Malaysia Demonstration Project in Langkawi. – March 12, 2020.