YANG di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V today voiced his support for the introduction of a new law to curb the spread of false news and slander on social media.

Speaking at the official opening of the first meeting of the sixth session of the 13th Parliament, he said social media had a significant influence on the values and culture of today’s society.

“All parties should play their role in safeguarding good character and moral values within the society.

“Hence, we fully support the proposal to formulate laws to address the spread of fake news and slander in social media,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman said on February 6 that the government hoped to table a new law to combat fake news.

Azalina said the new law is aimed at curbing the spread of fake news that could jeopardise political stability and threaten public peace and national security.

She was reported to have said that the new measure is necessary so that members of the public would be more responsible in sharing unconfirmed news.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has also proposed to increase the fine for spreading fake news to RM500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment.

MCMC chief operating officer Dr Mazlan Ismail was reported as saying that the current RM50,000 fine and jail sentence was too light.

Meanwhile, Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he hoped the proposed law to curb fake news should not be used by the government to block critical news.

On the threats to the nation’s peace and security, Sultan Muhammad V also urged the government to continue to be vigilant especially in enforcing cyberspace security, enhancing intelligence capabilities, increasing patrols at the country’s borders and waters as well as combating human trafficking.

“No one should politicise or trivialise the issue of national security,” he said.

He also said that efforts to chart a better future must be intensified, urging all programmes and projects to be implemented effectively and taking into account challenges facing the country.

“We commend the continuous measures taken in addressing issues that are close to the hearts and minds of the people, especially those pertaining to the cost of living.

“We believe that more programmes will be introduced with the establishment of the National Action Council on Cost of Living to ease the burden of the people,” he said.

He added that the government would also continue to provide allocation for more people-centric projects and programmes to ensure the wellbeing of the people.

“Furthermore, targeted subsidies and assistance for the needy will be continued,” he said.

He also expressed hope that appreciation of the nation’s historical legacy and mastery of the national language will be strengthened as the basis of the Malaysian identity.

Dewan Rakyat will sit for 20 days, from March 5 until April 5.

This will be the last session before Parliament is dissolved to make way for the 14th general election (GE14), which must be held by August.

The first two weeks of the legislative body’s meeting has been set aside to debate the royal address while the third week will be for ministries to wrap up the debates on the royal address.

The fourth and fifth weeks are for debates on bills and other government matters. – March 5, 2018.