KUALA LUMPUR: The proposal of the jail sentence for Anti Fake News offenders was revised to six years instead of 10 years but the fine of RM500,000 remains.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman (pic) said the reduction shows that the government listens to the feedback from the people since the Bill was tabled recently.
When tabling the Bill for the second reading today, Azalina emphasized that fake news would give negative impact to the safety and stability of the country.
“The unity between intra and inter-race that was built in Malaysia all these years could be destroyed by fake news,” she stressed.
She also emphasized that fake news could poison the minds of the readers into believing fake news that could destroy the prosperity of the community.
The Bill, she said, is a serious effort of the government in addressing the problems of spreading the fake news in line with the modern technology.
The Government, she said, tables the Anti Fake News Bill to make the people be more responsible for producing, offering, publishing, printing, circulating or spreading true news.
The Anti Fake News Bill for the second reading today was debated furiously by both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Opposition Members of Parliament until late noon.
The Dewan will continue with the Bill on 2nd April (Monday).
– Malaysia World News – Live coverage from Dewan Rakyat (Parliament)
