THE proposed law to curb “fake news” should not be used by the government to block critical news, especially when it comes to the country’s largest financial scandal, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

“These new laws would be good if were only used against actual fake news,” the Pakatan Harapan chairman said in a Bersatu video released on Facebook today. 

“However, they should not be used to block articles or news that are true. We know that regarding 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion, these (news reports) are not false. These are true,” said Dr Mahathir, referring to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd state investment fund scandal. 

“We have to separate what is true and what is fake news,” Dr Mahathir added. “Don’t use this law to shut out the truth,” he said. 

The Wall Street Journal reported in mid 2015 that RM2.6 billion was transferred from a fund related to 1MDB to Prime Minister Najib Razak’s personal accounts just before the 2013 general elections.  

Najib has said the RM2.6 billion was a donation from a Saudi prince. He has consistently denied wrongdoing and has been cleared by Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali in January 2016.

In the same video, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin accused the government of generating “fake news” of its own.

“The government, under the leadership of Najib suggested that fake news be curbed. We know today that there are many fake news, but they come from Umno and BN,” said the former deputy prime minister. 

“It is clear that they can’t explain the issues that have now become problems that affect the nation. Therefore, the labelling of information by the opposition as fake news is a form of persecution and is an irresponsible act. 

“If the new laws are to be used, it must be used fairly and judiciously based on verifiable facts that the news is indeed fake,” Muhyiddin

Last week, Najib announced that the government was considering new laws to curb “fake news”, which he said was a threat to political stability and public order.

A special task force was formed last month to study new laws. 

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said said the task force included representatives from the police, Attorney-General’s Chambers, Legal Affairs Division, National Security Council, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, and Communications and Multimedia Ministry.

Lawyers’ group, Lawyers for Liberty said Putrajaya’s intent to formulate laws to curb “fake news” should be viewed with “serious concern”, as it might be at the expense of freedom of speech, expression, information and the press.

New laws could also be open to abuse, as questions remain whether the government is able to distinguish “blatantly fabricated” information from critical news reporting that otherwise contains errors, the group said. 

On Sunday, Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak denied opposition claims that the formulation of the law against fake news was to protect the political interests of the government.

“(If) we don’t control fake news, it could affect racial and religious harmony in Malaysia,” Salleh said. 

Earlier today, Azalina said the draft of the new law to curb fake news may be tabled to the cabinet in the near future. – February 6, 2018.