Many take to social media to warn of fake news

PETALING JAYA: People took to social media to warn each other against spreading misinformation as the Anti-Fake News Act has come into effect.

The Act was passed in Dewan Rakyat on April 2 and gazetted in less than 10 days, surprising many.

Highlighting the news on Facebook, Cammy Yong had some advice for her friends.

“New law, guys. So don’t be sharing stuff you know to be wrong. At least do a simple fact check. Six years jail max, I think?” she said.

Former DAP life member and criminologist Shamsher Singh Thind also shared the news on Facebook, adding that while Opposition leaders could afford top lawyers, most members of the public could not.

“So, kindly refrain from sharing any news which you have no knowledge of its truth. Let politicians play the political game,” he said.

Another user Nazrul Azizi advised others to think before they post while Hasrol Rosli said the real battle for GE14 was on WhatsApp.

“I recalled when they draft the Anti-Fake News Act, it was stated that over 80% of fake news are distributed within WhatsApp in Malaysia,” he added.

Describing the gazettement as a “very sad day”, constitutional lawyer Syahredzan Johan reiterated that the legislation was unnecessary, too wide and arbitrary as well as susceptible to abuse.

“So, I think as soon as this Act has been used on an individual or an entity, a constitutional challenge should be mounted,” he said.

DAP’s Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming said he found the speed at which the Act was gazetted “surprising”.

“I hope it will not be used as a threat during the GE14 campaign to go after politicians and even the man on the street” he said.

Barisan Nasional’s Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Moktar Radin said the gazettement was timely as fake news incidents were only going to increase during the elections.

Pointing to the many old videos recently made viral again, he said this was to stir certain sentiments.

“But, with that Act, we can lodge a police report and it will be investigated,” he said.