Bill to repeal Anti-Fake News Act tabled

A BILL to repeal the controversial Anti-Fake News Act 2018 has been tabled in Parliament.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong tabled the Bill for its first reading.

The Bill states that fake news may be dealt with under other laws.

“Due to the change in the policy of the Government, fake news may be dealt with under existing laws, such as the Penal Code, the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

“As such, Act 803 (Anti-Fake News Act 2018) is no longer relevant,” read the Bill.

However, the Bill also states that any application for an order under the repealed Act made prior to the passing of this Bill will still remain in force. This means that any cases currently under the Anti-Fake News Act may still be investigated or prosecuted despite the Act being abolished.

The Anti-Fake News Act was pushed through by the then Barisan Nasional government and passed in Parliament on April 2 despite protests from Pakatan Harapan lawmakers. Pakatan, in its general election manifesto, had promised to repeal the Act.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is the subject of an investigation under this law over his claims that a private jet he was using had been sabotaged to prevent him from attending a ceramah during his election campaign.