Anti-fake news bill goes through second reading

Kamles Kumar Kamles Kumar Updated 6 years ago · Published on 29 Mar 2018 3:15PM · 3 Comments

THE controversial Anti-Fake News Bill 2018 was read for the second time in the Dewan Rakyat today. 

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said tabled the bill at 2.44pm. 

“Fake news is bad news. The bill that is tabled by me will not curb freedom of speech but will curb fake news from going viral,” she said. 

The Pengerang MP gave instances of fake news affecting the government and businesses in Malaysia as well as internationally. 

Azalina said when the MH370 incident happened, a lot of families were distressed when fake news that the plane was shot down became viral. 

“A lot of fake news was spread. Imagine the stress it caused the families. All that talk about the plane being shot down,” she said. 

She also gave the example of fast-food chain McDonald’s being slandered by claims that it funded Israel and its cheeseburger contained pork. 

Azalina also listed several notable international figures, like Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, actors Jackie Chan and Sylvester Stallone, who were affected by fake news claims that they had died. 

She said a committee that dealt with fake news had been formed and the cabinet had agreed to expand the powers of the committee.

“There is a committee on fake news. It has met for a few times. The cabinet has agreed to widen the powers of committee.”

Opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the bill was very vague and might be abused by the ruling government.

“The bill that is tabled is clearly a draconian law which can be abused, especially by the ruling government,” she said when debating the motion.

Former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin said there was no need for Putrajaya to introduce a new law.

The Bersatu president added the current proposed sentencing from the bill was too harsh.

“The sentencing, I feel, is too heavy. This is an abuse of power to curb the freedom of speech,” he told Dewan Rakyat.

According to the bill, offenders could be fined up to RM500,000 or face 10 years’ jail for spreading fake news.

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”. – March 29, 2018.

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Comments

  • Azalina has chosen the worst example on MH 370 to justify fake news act. Had Malaysian Air Force been able to detect the plane coming back to Malaysian airspace, and enquired on the unusual activity, MH370 would have long been found. This is not fake news. The Fake News act is not meant to prepare for another MH 370, and so it should not have been quoted as an example. The grieving families do not think that fake news hurt them, but the action of the government did.

    Posted 6 years ago by Meng Kow Loh · Reply

  • Azalina quoted a lot of examples of fake news. Does the government intend to police all the fake news to stop them? Has the government the required resources to do that. Obviously not, since it would not be worth the taxpayers money to stop people spreading news about Jackie Chan. But the government will selective choose to take action if real news about Najib is reported. So the Act will be selectively policed. It will use it to silence about criticism of Najib. That is why the Act is hastily crafted before GE 14. It is a convenient to plot to declare emergency rule.

    Posted 6 years ago by Meng Kow Loh · Reply

  • SHE is fake news. She is clearly gay. If she admit it, they will persecute her to no ends, yet she herself willingly committee mass damage withe bills that she passes. Victims turns out to be the worst beast in us.

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply