KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): Contradictory statements from the communications and multimedia minister and his deputy have raised the question of whether the government has double standards when it comes to the Anti-Fake News Bill 2018, says lawmaker Tony Pua. 

Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara), in a statement today, noted that minister Datuk Seri Salleh Keruak had yesterday assured foreign correspondents in a meeting that the US Department of Justice (DoJ) filings on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) would not be considered fake news. 

"You can quote them, what did they say, based on the filings. It is not considered fake news. It's their views," Pua quoted Salleh as saying.

On the other hand, Salleh’s deputy, Datuk Jalani Johari, had told Parliament last Wednesday that “other than information that has been verified by the government, all other information is deemed as fake news,” Pua noted. 

Although the DoJ has claimed more than than US$4.5 billion (RM18 billion) has been misappropriated from 1MDB, Pua noted Najib’s administration has insisted no money was lost. 

“This means that by Jailani’s definition provided in Parliament, the allegations carried in the DoJ report are all ‘fake news’,” Pua said. 

“Perhaps the law is only intended to persecute Malaysians, in particular critics from the opposition and the civil society who are outraged by the detailed findings exposed by the DoJ charges,” Pua said. 

Meanwhile, foreign correspondents appear to be left undisturbed in carrying their reports, he added. 

“There can be no further proof needed to demonstrate that the fake news bill is being rushed into Parliament, carrying outrageous penalties targeted at critics of the kleptomaniacs running this country,” Pua claimed.