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PETALING JAYA: The world’s largest international journalists body has criticized the latest emergency ordinance that will see fines of up to RM100,000 for fake news, and is urging the government to repeal the law.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), which represents more than 600,000 journalists in 140 different countries, said the ordinance was a “great threat” to media freedom.
He also asked the government to explain the reason for the law and whether it was aimed at silencing the media.
“This is an abuse of the emergency powers of Covid-19 by the Malaysian government to implement laws that will severely restrict the public’s right to know and threaten the ability of journalists to report freely and fairly.
“The IFJ and its affiliate the National Union of Journalists (Peninsular Malaysia) strongly condemn the decision to implement the new fake news ordinance as a major threat to media freedom and call for its immediate repeal,” he said in a statement. Press release. today.
Yesterday it was reported that those who create, publish or distribute false news would now face a fine of up to RM100,000, a jail term of up to three years, or both under a new emergency ordinance.
Those who pay to create such fake news will face more severe punishment, with fines of up to RM500,000 or a six-year jail term, or both.
The Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance (No. 2) of 2021 defines “fake news” as news or information that “is or is totally or partially false in relation to Covid-19 or the emergency proclamation”.
The new law has received criticism from politicians, media groups and lawyers, who expressed concern that it would stifle people’s rights and freedoms.
