THE institutional reform committee, which held its first meeting today, will likely recommend that the anti-fake news law, which was passed just before GE14, be repealed.

Committee member Ambiga Sreenevasan said they were looking at a “repeal in total” of not only that law, but also the Sedition Act and a host of other laws that “impair our fundamental liberty”.

The controversial anti-fake news bill was tabled in Parliament on March 26 and passed on April 2 with a simple majority.

Thoe convicted under this act face a maximum jail term of up to six years with a maximum fine of RM500,000.

One of Pakatan Harapan’s campaign pledges was to repeal the law as it is too vague and the punishment too harsh.

Present at today’s meeting were retired Court of Appeal judges K.C. Vohrah and Mah Weng Kwai, National Patriots Association president brig gen (rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji and Tunku Abdul Rahman Professor of Law at Universiti Malaya Shad Saleem Faruqi.

“We all have our individual views, but I think we are looking at having it repealed in total,” said Ambiga.

“That is what we are looking at. And, we are looking at some legislation that can be repealed in total and some that require amendments.

“This includes all draconian laws. I don’t have to list them. You all know them. All of those acts that have impaired our fundamental liberties unnecessarily, including the Official Secrets Act, we are looking at them.”

Mah said there are enough laws to deal with libel and slander, such as defamation laws.

“No one condones falsity and falsehood. But, we reckon, by looking at the existing legislation, that there are already sufficient provisions that deal with situations like that.”

He said the penalties under the anti-fake news law are very onerous.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday reiterated that the government will retain the law, but with a “clearer definition” of what constitutes fake news.

Several PH lawmakers have called for its repeal, saying maintaining it violates one of the coalition’s key campaign promises. – May 16, 2018.