THERE are many ways to tackle fake news, but drafting new laws is not one of them, said lawyer Syahredzan Johan.

He  said among the measures would be to remove legislation that puts restrictions on the media.

Syahredzan said laws like the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) and Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Act are obstacles to the free flow of information and the media’s work.

“For example the Sedition Act is a no brainer, abolish it, PPPA abolish it, OSA abolish it, all these laws which restrict freedom of speech and expression which includes freedom of information, we should abolish,” he said at the GE14: Battle of Fake News forum in Subang Jaya last night.

Earlier DAP’s legal bureau secretary Michelle Ng Mei Sze told the forum existing laws made the proposed fake news law redundant.

“The first law that is in place is section 8 of the PPPA… so in terms of traditional media you have already something that regulates it,” Ng said

Section 8 of the PPPA says the printer, publisher, editor and the writer of any publication that maliciously publishes false news will be liable to at a maximum three years’ jail or RM20,000 fine or both.

“What about the alternative media (or social media)? We also have laws for that. Section 233(1) (a) of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act.”

“It basically criminalises the use of network facilities or network services by a person to transmit any communication that is deemed to be obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character,” Ng said.

A special task force has been formed to study new laws aimed at tackling fake news.

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 the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.

Other panel members last night included DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, veteran journalists R. Nadeswaran and The Malaysian Insight’s Zulkifli Sulong.

Lim said the fake news is a concern for all Malaysians.

 “I have been a victim of fake news… I have said that in my years in politics, I have never received a single sen from Robert Kuok or via James Kuok or anyone,” he said referring to claims that he had received funding for DAP from the Malaysian tycoon.

Lim said as Umno leaders had accused Kuok using fake news, he has his reservations about the new law.

“That is why we have very grave reservations about Azalina’s fake news committee to draft fake news laws and mechanisms.” – March 1, 2018.