Apology can also be ordered

media account of the person who published the said article.

Failing to comply with the court order to remove the said publication will make the publisher liable to a fine of up to RM100,000 and up to RM3,000 every day for continuing offence after conviction.

Besides the specified penalties, the court can also order the convicted parties to make an apology to the person affected by the fake news, failing which they shall be punishable for contempt of court.

In tabling the bill yesterday in the Dewan Rakyat, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said ( pix) said it will go for second reading this sitting.

Among others, a person is deemed to commit an offence under the law if he or she:

offers false information or fabricates information;

gives a public speech containing false information; makes false claims about someone; knowingly shares an article or information that is false or fabricated, on social media;

produces a caricature of someone in a positive manner, but with untrue information; and

creates a website impersonating one of the government’s and provides guidelines to apply for a licence when no such guidelines have been issued.

However, if any such information is offered to a publication or blogger who publishes it without knowing it is false, only the source who provided the information will be deemed guilty of the offence.