THE Anti-Fake News Bill is unnecessary as Malaysia has enough laws to regulate the press and to deal with false allegations, Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

The bill, tabled by Putrajaya in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, is aimed at suppressing dissent and criticism against the government, the opposition’s prime minister candidate added.

“It’s very clear that they are confused and do not know what the true purpose of such a law is, other than for political ends.

“They want such a law when there are already laws that are sufficient, so that the government has power to detain its critics,” he said after attending a briefing on the bill at Parliament today.

The bill defines “fake news” as “any news, information, data, and reports, which is or wholly or partly false, whether in the form of features, visuals, or audio recordings or in any other form capable of suggesting words or ideas”.

It proposes a fine of up to RM500,000 or 10-year jail term for those found guilty of spreading false news.

Publications that reproduce “fake news” will also be charged up to RM100,000 for the offence and a further RM300,000 for every day the offence continues.

“The purpose of the law is to prevent opposition parties from criticising the government. We should not be rushing this law through in one day at the end of Parliament’s term, because this is a very serious matter,” Dr Mahathir said.

Instead, the bill should be debated at length in Parliament after the general election, he added.

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar questioned how the law would be applied if fake news were reported about Putrajaya’s critics and the opposition.

“Will the public prosecutor take action if the fake news is about the opposition?” There is no answer,” she said.

Under the bill, parties affected by fake news can apply for the court to order a removal of the offending content, and the publisher of the alleged fake news can apply to set aside the order.

But if the court order to remove content is granted to the government, it cannot be challenged and the publisher accused of posting fake news cannot apply to set aside the order. – March 27, 2018.