Two changes will be made to clause four and five of the Anti-Fake News Bill 2018.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said that there is a proposal to change the word “knowingly” in clause four to “maliciously” while the originally proposed 10-year jail term will be reduced to six years.
“The amendments were made after considering the views from a few parties, including parliamentarians,” Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said posted on her Facebook page yesterday.
Azalina said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had agreed to the two proposed amendments.
The maximum fine for offenders remains at RM500,000.
The bill was tabled in Parliament on March 26.
The Bill was read for the second time in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (March 29).
So far, about six lawmakers have debated the Bill, which seeks to penalise those who knowingly create and spread “fake news”.
The bill describes fake news as any news, information, data or report, which is wholly or partly false, whether in the form of features, visuals, audio recordings or any other form, capable of suggesting words or ideas.
The debates on the controversial Bill will continue on Monday (April 2).
Earlier reports:
Mar 29, Calls Not to Pass Anti-Fake News Law in Haste
Mar 27, Strong Reactions to Anti-Fake News Bill
Mar 26, Anti-Fake News Bill Tabled, Seeks High Punishment for Offenders