KUALA LUMPUR: The Anti-Fake News Bill 2018 proposes a maximum fine of RM500,000, imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or both, upon conviction for creating or spreading fake news.
This was the punishment suggested under Clause 4 (1) of the bill, which was tabled today for first reading.
The bill provides that any person who, by any means, creates, offers, publishes, prints, distributes, circulates or disseminates any fake news or publication containing fake news, is liable to punishment.
In the case of the offence being continued, the offender is liable to a further fine not exceeding RM3,000 for every day during which the offence continues after conviction.
Clause 2 of the bill defines fake news as news, information, data, reports, which is or are wholly or partly false, whether in the form of features, visuals or audio recordings or in any other form capable of suggesting words or ideas.
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Clause 3 of the bill provides any offence committed by any person, whatever his nationality or citizenship, in any place outside Malaysia, he may be dealt with in respect of such offence as if the offence was committed at any place within Malaysia.
Other than that, any person who directly or indirectly provides financial assistance for purpose of committing or facilitating commision of the offence, is liable to a fine not exceeding RM500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both.
Any person who fails to remove publication containing fake news is liable to a fine not exceeding RM100,000.
Reports by Mohd Anwar Patho Rohman, Hidir Reduan, Luqman Arif Abdul Karim, Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi and Ahmad Suhael Adnan