THE pro-Barisan Nasional See Hua Daily has contravened the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 by publishing a goods and services tax advertisement with misleading information, said Sarawak Pakatan Harapan chairman Chong Chieng Jen.

He said he believes no action will be taken against the Chinese-language daily, which belongs to the state’s largest newspaper group, See Hua Group, given the company’s political leaning.

Other newspapers under See Hua Group are The Borneo Post, which is Sarawak’s highest-circulation English-language daily, and thesundaypost, as well as the Bahasa Malaysia- and Iban-language Utusan Borneo.

Chong said the information contained in the wrap-around ad is misleading because “it’s impossible for GST to do all the things that were claimed”.

He said the country’s annual GST collection is RM40 billion, or only 20% of total government revenue, therefore, revenue from other sources, like income tax, corporate tax, tariffs, import duties and royalties, would be needed to finance the government’s “achievements” as listed in the ad.

The Stampin candidate said he has informed police about the matter.

The law states that reports, including ads, that contain even partially wrong information are considered fake news.

The penalty is a RM200,000 fine, and the directors of publishing companies and all those associated with the design of such ads are liable to a jail term of five years.

The Anti-Fake News Act, which was rushed through Parliament before its dissolution last month, has been slammed as a form of government censorship. – May 6, 2018.