This year’s most contentious, and some might say unnecessary, law the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 (Act 803) is being repealed in the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) today.
Datuk Liew Vui Keong, a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, tabled a bill questioning whether there were already laws in place dealing with fake news issues.
A decision to repeal the bill was made after a change in federal government policy, as well as after several group and individuals pointed out that the issues it purports to tackle were already dealt with in the Penal Code, the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Much like the need for a new reality series starring 2000s Laguna Beach villain Kristen Cavallari, the bill states: “As such, Act 803 is no longer relevant.” In other words, thanks, but we already have a lot of that.
However, any cases that have been made under the act prior to its repeal, will proceed as the repealed act is still in force.
One step forward!
