KUALA LUMPUR (March 13): The government has roped in representatives from social media platforms to discuss the upcoming bill to address fake news, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Sri Azalina Othman Said. 

In a statement today, Azalina said the meeting, held at the Parliament yesterday, included representatives from Google, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and Asia Internet Coalition.  

The meeting was also attended by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Azalina added. 

“This meeting is important to ensure the bill that is being drafted will cover every aspect in a comprehensive manner,” she said.

Additionally, a workshop on fake news was also conducted by a special committee at the Asian International Arbitration Centre (Malaysia) (AIAC), alongside relevant government agencies.  

“As has been asserted previously, the primary basis of the bill is to curb fake news that can threaten public order and national security. 

“I believe the bill will meet current development and needs to eradicate this global phenomenon of dissemination of fake news and information from spreading further in this country,” Azalina said.