Most BN reps support proposed Fake News Act — Abdullah

KUCHING: Most Barisan Nasional ( BN) elected representatives, including its state assemblymen, in Sarawak want the proposed Fake News Act to be tabled and passed in Parliament.

Assistant Minister of Corporate Affairs Abdullah Saidol, in revealing this, said they supported the proposed act.

“I have asked several of my friends in the backbenchers club, and most of them including myself support the proposed act.

“Of course there are several laws like the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission ( MCMC) Act, 1984 Printing Presses and Publication Act and so on to deal with all kinds of false news and information.

“But this time, I hope we can have a specific Act, not just to curb fake news but sometimes to also deal with misrepresentation,” he said at the Linking with Media ceremony organised by the state Information Department here yesterday.

Giving an example, he said somebody may write that Gambir Sarawak can last for one hour while in fact its effect lasts only five minutes.

“In this example, what was presented about the Gambir Sarawak is misleading, incorrect and irresponsible.

“So we hope irresponsible news will also be incorporated in the proposed Fake News Act,” he said.

It was reported recently by a national online news portal that the final draft of a proposed law to curb fake news would be presented to the Cabinet soon.

The bill is said to have been finalised by a special committee – comprising representatives of the government, police, National Security Council and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission ( MCMC) – set up by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Jan 30 after he and the government declared war on ‘fake news’.

The proposed law, according to the government, is to protect the people and empower agencies such as MCMC to get court orders to force platform providers such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to remove postings which are ‘in breach of Malaysian laws and norms’.

Also present at the ceremony were Demak Laut assemblyman Dr Hazland Abang Hipni and state Information Department director Abang Sardon Abang Hashim.

Abdullah (front row, fourth right), Dr Hazland (second right) and Abang Sardon (third right) with some Information Department staff and media representatives during the Linking with Media ceremony in Kuching.