Bill to repeal Anti-Fake News Act tabled

KUALA LUMPUR: A Bill to repeal the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong tabled the Bill which contains two clauses for the first reading.

The bill seeks to repeal the Act due to the change in government policy that fake news can be dealt with under other existing laws such as Penal Code, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

The bill also states that any investigation, prosecution or proceedings with respect to any pending offences under the repealed Act, may still be continued as the Act is still in force.

Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry also tabled the Supply ( Reallocation of Appropriated Expenditure) Bill 2018 for the first reading.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng tabled the Bill requesting for the allocation of RM3,065,113,896 from the Consolidated Fund for the year 2018.

This is to accommodate the restructuring of several ministries as well as establishment of new ones and dissolution of a ministry following the 14th General Election.

Under the bill, the Economic Affairs Ministry is expected to receive the highest allocation of RM1.29 billion, followed by Treasury General Services ( RM448 million), Ministry of Home Affairs ( RM225.84 million); Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources ( RM190.3 million) and the Education Ministry ( RM181.8 million).