Dewan Negara rejects Bill to repeal Anti-Fake News Act 2018
5 November 2018
On 16 August 2018, the Dewan Rakyat (the Lower House of Parliament) of Malaysia passed the Anti-Fake News (Repeal) Bill 2018 (“Bill”) which seeks to repeal the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 (“Act”). The Act came into force on 11 April 2018. However, the Dewan Negara (the Upper House of Parliament) rejected the Bill on 12 September 2018. The Bill will be sent back to the Dewan Rakyat for review.
Under the Act, it is an offence for any person to create, offer, publish, print, distribute, circulate or disseminate any “fake news” or publication. It is also an offence to provide financial assistance to the propagators of “fake news”.
The Act is available on the e-Federal Gazette website www.federalgazette.agc.gov.my or by clicking here.