More stakeholders to be consulted on issues surrounding fake news
More stakeholders will be called upon to discuss the issue of fake social media accounts. Specifically ones created to spread false and inappropriate content that could adversely affect Malaysia's social and economic balance, as well as national security.
Minister in the Malaysian Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said a special committee has been set up to study the legal aspect regarding the spread of fake news. The committee had held its first meeting and discussed the matter with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
She said the stakeholders would include members of non-governmental organisations, lawyers, lecturers as well as Members of Parliament from Barisan Nasional (BN) and the opposition.
"I do not want to invite those who say something in a meeting, but say something else outside. I do not want to invite those who have begun claiming all sorts of things even before the meeting takes place.
"I want to invite especially the MPs from BN and the opposition who genuinely see that this is a big problem, a national security problem, whereby these fake news can threaten the country," he told reporters after launching the Pengerang Tour 2018 programme.
Ms Said, who is also Pengerang MP, said that as the ruling government, BN could have drafted the law without having a committee-level discussion.
"We have full power, there is nothing in the Federal Constitution which requires us to set up a Parliamentary committee. "What we are doing here (by having the committee) only goes to show the Prime Minister's courtesy to hear the views of all the parties concerned," she added.