MCMC proposes RM500,000 fine, 10 years' jail for fake news

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 18 Feb 2018 11:18AM · 4 Comments

THE punishment meted for fake news has to be increased to a fine of RM500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment as the existing laws are not sufficient, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said. 

Local daily Berita Harian reported the commission’s head of operations, Dr Mazlan Ismail, as saying that the current RM50,000 fine and jail sentence was too light. 

“There is no need for any party to be afraid if they did not do any wrong. These new laws actually protect all parties, including individuals, families, members of society as well politicians, so that they do not become victims of slander and defamation.

“The time has come for us to use specific acts to curb the spread of false news,” he said. 

Mazlan said in the Internet age, there had to be stringent enforcement when it comes to false news as things go viral almost instantly. 

He also said media practitioners should not be excluded in these new laws either. 

“There should be no exclusion for social media or conventional media and broadcast if it is proven to have spread false news. 

“Publishers and media practitioners will not have action taken against them if they practise journalism ethics and do not breach the law,” Mazlan said. 

Several media groups and lawyers had voiced concern that the new laws would be used to target non-mainstream media outlets that publish reports that were not in line with Putrajaya’s views.

Prime Minister Najib Razak announced recently 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 the new legislation.

Najib had said the new legislation would be presented in the next parliamentary sitting, due to start on March 5.

However, groups such as Lawyers for Liberty feared that the new laws could stifle freedom of speech and be used to ban reports critical of the government.

The Malaysian Bar, which represents 16,000 lawyers in the peninsula, had said the country had sufficient laws to curb the spread of fake news. – February 17, 2018.

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Comments

  • One very good reason to vote Mahathir back.

    Our freedom of speech on the Internet began during Mahathir's time as prime minister. Alternative news sites like Malaysiakini started and could operate freely online during Mahathir's time. The MCMC was better known for driving and facilitating the development of Malaysia's communications services during Mahathir's time.

    The explosion of Malatsia's cellular services began during Mahathir's time. The expansion of our Internet services began during Mahathir's time.

    Love him or hate him, tanks to Mahathir, we now can enjoy all these.
    l

    Posted 6 years ago by IT Scheiss · Reply

  • So when is Najib getting his fine and when is he going to be sent to jail ? There has been no greater "fake news" than the great saga of the great "donation" .

    Posted 6 years ago by Horas returns · Reply

  • To MCMC, all news not originating from Malaysia are fake news. Hence the report by DOJ of USA regarding 1MDB misappropriating USD 4.5 billion would qualify as fake news. Looks like the legislation has to do with blocking news on 1MDB. When PH takes over after GE 14, they should charge MCMC for malfeasance.

    Posted 6 years ago by Meng Kow Loh · Reply

  • MCMC better defer this 'Fake law' on the truths to after GE14. Given Najib is the most unpopular PM in Malaysia's history, a leading illegitimate government and strings of unresolved global corruption cases by MO1, and the arrest on whistleblowers -- the rakyat knew well what's fake and not.

    Posted 6 years ago by Kuasa Rakyat · Reply