It was shocking that the director of JASA, Mohd Puad Zarkashi, called fake news a severe crime given the fact that JASA (http://www.orientaldaily.com.my/s/231361), being the government’s propaganda unit, is the biggest purveyor of fake news in Malaysia.
Hence, if the act of spreading fake news is criminalised, Mohd Puad Zarkarshi should be the first one to be arrested and incarcerated.
JASA is a government unit, funded by taxpayers’ money, to nurture confusion, hatred and ill-will among Malaysians by disseminating fake news and misinformation everyday.
In short, JASA is Najib’s professional spin doctor organisation. Those employed under JASA are mostly Barisan Nasional party members. This is a clear abuse of power by the UMNO regime.
When Pakatan Harapan comes to power, JASA will be abolished.
The proposal to legislate against fake news marks the beginning of a very dangerous trend. If the Prime Minister wins big in the coming general election, he will tighten the control over what we read, see and hear. Fake news will definitely not be eliminated, because Najib’s government is the biggest purveyor of fake news. Instead, dissent will be gagged. That is the actual objective of having a fake news law in the first place: To silent alternative voices against the government.
If the government is serious about stopping fake news and misinformation, JASA should be abolished.