Controversial fake-news law comes into force in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s controversial Anti-Fake News Act came into force on Wednesday. Prime Minister Najib Razak said the anti-fake news legislation received the nod from the Malaysian king and was gazetted, reported the New Straits Times. The documents related to the Act have been uploaded on the Federal Gazette website, a check by Malaysiakini news site found.

The Bill was fast-tracked in Parliament by the government last week, despite criticism from opposition parties and political activists, who feared that it would be used to muzzle opinions the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition disagreed with.

There are also concerns that BN will use the law to stop criticism of it as the country prepares for a general election. Germany passed anti-fake news laws in January, with the authorities given the power to fine social media giants up to Euro 50 million (FJ$123 million) if they do not promptly remove illegal content from their sites.

Other countries, such as Singapore and the Philippines, are studying whether to enact their own anti-fake news laws.

The Bill was passed on April 2 in the Lower House of Parliament, with 123 votes for and 64 votes against, after its second reading.

The Malaysian legislation carries punishments of up to six years in prison, and a maximum fine of RM500,000 (FJ$261,957). The law also allows the government to seek an order for published articles to be removed and, if national security concerns were cited, the order cannot be challenged in court.

Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Malaysia’s de facto law minister who oversaw the legislation, has said the law is not intended to restrict freedom of speech but to restrict the dissemination of fake news.