Salleh: Fake news law will apply to all
KUALA LUMPUR: Laws proposed to curb fake news will apply to all instead of being confined to politics.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said there was an increase in fake news, hence a need to clamp down on it arose.
“If what is being spread is not fake news, then why the need for concern? The laws are to protect victims of fake news, who should be offered justice as well,” he said in blog post titled “Disinformation and fake news are a threat to democracy”, yesterday.
Salleh said even the West was beginning to relook at its freedom of speech concept and it now regarded fake news as a threat to democracy.
He said Britain, which was considered to be the bastion of democracy and free speech, was also mulling new laws to combat the problem.
“Democracy and freedom of speech need to be protected from disinformation and fake news. So, we need to uphold that sanctity by clamping down on the abuse of freedom of speech by those who spread disinformation and fake news,” he said.
Meanwhile, the technical meeting of the special committee drafting the law on fake news met for the second day yesterday with input from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
“I can’t disclose details of the technical aspects of AGC, but we will try to bring this case (false news legislation) to the cabinet as soon as possible,” said Minister in Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, here yesterday.
She said the movement to inject hatred and spark riots by spreading fake news through social media was becoming increasingly contagious in the world. This demanded the attention of the government to draft laws on fake news as soon as possible.
Azalina said due to Malaysia’s multiethnic and multireligious communities, fake news would have severe implications on the nation’s social structure.
Earlier, Azalina represented Malaysia in signing a Supplementary Agreement with the Secretary-General of the Asian-African Legal Advisory Organisation, Professor Dr Kennedy Gastron, at Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (KLRCA).
The agreement rebranded KLRCA as the International Asia Arbitration Centre, in line with the Arbitration Act (Amendment) 2018, which was passed by Parliament recently. Present were AttorneyGeneral and AIAC Advisory Board chairman, Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali and KLRCA director Professor Datuk Sundra Rajoo.