PUTRAJAYA moved to abolish the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 by tabling a bill for its repeal in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong tabled the Anti-Fake News (Repeal) Bill 2018 for first reading, saying the abolishment of the law that was rushed through Parliament prior to the general election in May was due to policy changes from the new government.

The Pakatan Harapan government will deal with fake news under existing laws, the bill states, including the Penal Code, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. 

According to the bill, the repeal of the law will not affect any ongoing case or investigation that commenced when the Anti-Fake News Act was in force.

“The repeal of the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 shall not affect any order made under the repealed act prior to the date of coming into operation of this act. 

“On the date of coming into operation of this act, any application for an order under the repealed act made prior to the date of coming in operation of this act or any proceeding in respect of such application pending under the repealed act may be continued as if the repealed act is still in force. 

“On the date of coming into operation of this act, any investigation, prosecution or proceeding in respect of any offence under the repealed act pending under the repealed act may be continued as if the repealed act is still in force,” the bill said.

The Anti-Fake News Act passed under the previous administration in April, making Malaysia one of the few countries in the world with a law against fake news.

Under the law, offenders can be fined up to RM500,000 or jailed for up to six years.

It was criticised for giving the government excessively broad powers, including extra-territorial jurisdiction that allows it to charge or detain any person who published what it perceives to be fake news.

It also provided for the financiers of blogs or news sites to be indicted, while court applications to reverse a publication ban could be thrown out under the pretext of national security. – August 8, 2018.