Government’s aim to ensure the media has the freedom

PUTRAJAYA -- The abolition of the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 (Act 803) is in line with the government’s aim to ensure the media has the freedom to carry out its checks and balances on the current administration, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong.
On Wednesday, he had presented the Bill (Bill) to repeal the Act for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat.
Liew said seeking to repeal the Act was not done hastily as claimed by Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, adding that the current government was of the view that existing laws were sufficient to deal with fake news.
"Strict action can still be taken with the existing laws against any party spreading false news.
"In fact, the abolition of the Act will also give the people the freedom to speak up, subject to existing laws," he said in a statement here today.
His statement was also to deny Azalina's Facebook posting on Thursday which claimed the move to abolish the Act was carried out in a hurry.
Liew said the formulation of Act 803 by the previous government, was actually carried out in a hurry without consultation and a comprehensive discussion with all stakeholders and to get feedback from the media and the people.
The bill seeks to abolish the act due to changes in government policy that false news can be addressed under existing laws such as the Penal Code, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
The bill also states that any investigation, prosecution or proceedings in respect of any pending offence under the repealed act, may be continued despite the Act being abolished.
The Anti Fake News Act 2018 which provides for a maximum fine of RM500,000 and imprisonment of up to six years, was enacted in April this year under the previous administration.

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