Malaysia: Anti-fake news bill passed April 2

Event

On April 2, Malaysia’s parliament pushed through a bill that made fake news punishable by a maximum six-year jail sentence. The law must still be debated in the senate but it is expected to be passed. The law targets both local and foreign media sources and covers any information that is deemed to be either wholly or partly fake.

Context

Critics opposing the bill have claimed it will be used to stifle dissent before the parliamentary elections that are expected to take place in the coming weeks. The government has stated that contrary to criticism, the law is not intended to restrict the freedom of speech.

Malaysia ranks 144th out of 180 countries in the 2017 World Press Freedom Index, with number one being the freest.

Advice

Individuals in Malaysia are advised to follow all local regulations and keep abreast of the situation.