THE freedom of speech granted by the government is being misused to spread false and defamatory news, said Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu. 

The Amanah president said today the dissemination of fake news, especially those touching on racial and religious sensitivities, threatened the country’s peace.

“Criticise the weaknesses of the government, criticise the weaknesses of my ministry or even criticise me. But do not be defamatory. When we give (the people this) freedom, it is misused,” Mohamad said at a talk organised by the Karangkraf Media Group in Shah Alam, Selangor, today.

“When we allow (people) to criticise, they start to abuse (the right) by inciting racial and religious strife.” 

Mohamad was speaking during the interview to veteran journalist Johan Jaaffar.

“We don’t want serious racial issues to surface,” Mohamad told him.

Earlier this week, Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun revealed that the police had received 929 reports nationwide concerning insults by social media users against Islam, the Prophet Muhammad and his wife, Aishah.

Two men appeared in court last week over allegations of insulting Islam while at least five individuals are being investigated for religious insults online.

They are being investigated under the Penal Code and Multimedia and Communications Act 1998.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa had said a unit to monitor such insults against Islam on social media had been formed under the Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

Mohamad said due to these recent cases, the government needed to review its policies on freedom of speech.

“We want to allow freedom of speech but if it reaches such a detrimental extent, we need to review it,” the Kota Raja MP said.

He added that the promise to ensure freedom of speech in Pakatan Harapan’s general election manifesto was aimed at allowing criticism, not the proliferation of lies and fake news. – March 8, 2019.