DAP condemns proposed Anti-Fake News Bill

GEORGE TOWN: DAP has come out strongly condemning the proposed Anti-Fake News Bill which will be tabled in Parliament in the next few days, with its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (pix) saying the Bill is a death knell to freedom of speech as it threatens the alleged offenders with imprisonment.

It also acts against independent media outlets, which may choose not to publish news verified by the BN federal government.

On Wednesday, Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Jailani Johari said any 1MDB-related information that was unverified, including reports by international news organisations like The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and MSNBC, would be considered fake news.

“Jailani had said that ‘The general definition of fake news is news confirmed as false by authorities with expertise in the matter’,” Lim, who is Penang chief minister, said in a statement.

“In other words, only the government can determine what is true and false or decide which is fake or not. That only the BN government can decide what is true or false is draconian,” he added.

Meanwhile, in the Dewan Rakyat, several opposition MPs questioned whether Malaysians really need the proposed Anti-Fake News law when the definition of fake news depends on the government’s discretion.

Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (AmanahSepang) interjected Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said when she was winding up the debate on the royal address.

“In Malaysia, from what we observe, we are not victims of fake news, we are actually victims of ‘real news’,” he said.

In her winding up speech, Azalina said Malaysia has been constantly facing various challenges from the implications of spreading fake news that not only confuses people but can also pose a threat to the country’s economy, peace and well-being.

Sim Tze Tsin (PKR-Bayan Baru) questioned whether the government has full power in defining and deciding what information is fake news.

Raising a point of order, Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) demanded that the minister reply as all MPs have the right to an answer.

However, Azalina defused the questions saying that they should be raised during the debate on the Anti-Fake News Bill once it has been tabled next week.