Malaysian ‘fake news’ law challenged

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leading Malaysian news portal mounted a legal challenge yesterday against a law aimed at combating “fake news”, which critics fear will be used to stifle dissent before elections next month.

Parliament earlier in April passed the legislation, which makes the dissemination of deliberately misleading information punishable by up to six years in jail and a hefty fine.

Malaysiakinian application for a judicial review of the law in Kuala Lumpur High Court. (AFP)