Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (March 29): The government has proposed to reduce the maximum jail term for offences under the Anti-Fake News Bill 2018 to six years, from 10 years in the initial proposal.

At the second reading of the controversial Bill today, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the maximum fine remains at RM500,000.

The minister also proposed amending the word 'knowingly' used in the fourth clause of the Bill, to 'maliciously'.

Clause 4(1) currently reads: "Any person who, by any means, knowingly creates, offers, publishes, prints, distributes, circulates or disseminates any fake news or publication containing fake news commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding RM500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both, and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding RM3,000 for every day during which the offence continues after conviction."

The amendments will be made during the Bill's committee level debate today, said Azalina.

"These amendments shows that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, is considerate and ready to receive all views and suggestions," she said.

Azalina had earlier proposed that today's meeting will not be adjourned until the Bill is passed.

The debate at the policy level has started with former Deputy Prime Minister and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the first parliamentarian to speak.

 

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