Journos in dismay as senator questions rush to repeal

PETALING JAYA: Journalist groups have slammed Dewan Negara for putting a stop to the repeal of the Anti-Fake News Act, calling for bi-partisan support.

However, a Barisan Nasional senator said there was no urgent need to repeal the Act.

National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia said it viewed the rejection as a “political drama” due to Barisan’s defeat at the 14th General Election.

“We sincerely hope that the Pakatan Harapan government will bring up the same issue after one year in accordance with Article 68(2) of Federal Constitution,” said its general secretary Chin Sung Chew.

Institute of Journalists Malaysia urged the government to impose a moratorium on the usage of the Act until the matter is fully resolved in Parliament.

“While we share Dewan Negara’s concerns of the problem of fake news, such concerns will not be addressed by what is fundamentally poorly drafted legislation,” it said.

Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) coordinator Radzi Razak said as of now, the journalism community, which was still affected by the Act, would be open to unjust abuse should anyone in government emulate restrictive leaders in silencing the media.

Dewan Negara’s decision to oppose the move to repeal the Act is in stark contrast with its acceptance of the move to implement the Sales and Service Tax (SST) in place of the Goods and Service Tax (GST).

When the proposals were first sent to Dewan Negara in August, these were expected to face resistance but went through with little objection.

Senator Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said unlike the SST that affected the country’s monetary flow, there was no urgent need to abolish the AntiFake News Act.

“This Act is relevant and timely, especially because we are in a new Malaysia.

“If there is any provision that is draconian, it should be carefully reviewed and amended instead of a blanket dismissal,” he said.

The Senate’s rejection, said Ti, was also a clear message to the new government, which he claimed was politicising the Act.

The government, he said, should live up to its ethos of good governance by “doing its homework”.

“It should come up with better provisions instead of taking the lazy easy way out by repealing the Act.

“Pakatan’s victory does not give them a mandate to destory everything good introduced during the previous administration.”