Malaysia can now enter the Guinness World Records for being the first nation in the world to implement the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 with such unholy haste.
Since caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak took the helm of the nation nine years ago, haven’t we consistently broken world records all for the wrong reasons?
With the Anti-Fake News Act 2018, Malaysians now face the risk of being punished up to six years’ imprisonment and a maximum RM500,000 fine for anything that can be considered as ‘fake news’ by the authorities.
With this new law in place and if the Barisan Nasional remains in power for the next five years, will any form of news that is unfavourable to the ruling party be easily labelled as ‘fake’?
For instance, the ‘news’ that we read and viral on social media about MO1, Riza Aziz, Jho Low and others stealing more than US$4.5 billion from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund can be easily dismissed now as ‘fake’ news by the government, despite it being widely reported by many international media.
Soon, even labelling Najib as the MO1 can be prosecuted for spreading ‘fake news’, despite Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Abdul Rahman Dahlan clearly identifying Najib as the MO1.
This controversial bill was gazetted yesterday, despite all the objections and criticisms received from various NGOs, political parties and journalist groups. It is as if the national security hinges on this one law.
Is Najib feeling jittery about losing in the coming General Election that he has to use every desperate measure to intimidate and suppress the rakyat?
This will effectively stifle the people’s right to freedom of speech. I have no choice but to urge outspoken Malaysians to continue to speak with boldness without fear or favour, in order for us to preserve the sanctity of our freedom of speech as citizens of this nation. Our freedom of speech cannot be taken away from us.
To safeguard ourselves, my advice is for all of us to express even more stinging criticisms about Najib’s administration, but always ending with a question mark. When phrased properly, we need not fear the Anti-Fake News Act 2018. After all, questioning is not accusing, right?