Malaysia approves 6-year jail term law to tackle trend of "fake news"

Today, Malaysia approved a law against “fake news” that would allow for prison of up to six years for offenders, shrugging off critics who say it was aimed at curbing dissent and free speech ahead of a general election.

Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government secured a simple majority in parliament to pass the Anti-Fake News 2018 bill, which sets out fines of up to 500,000 ringgit ($123,000) and a maximum six years in jail.

The first draft of the bill had proposed jail of up to 10 years. The government said the law would not impinge on freedom of speech and cases under it would be handled through an independent court process.

“This law aims to protect the public from the spread of fake news, while allowing freedom of speech as provided for under the constitution,” Law Minister Azalina Othman Said told parliament.

The law defines fake news as “news, information, data and reports which is or are wholly or partly false” and includes features, visuals and audio recordings. It covers digital publications and social media and will apply to offenders who maliciously spread “fake news” inside and outside Malaysia, including foreigners, if Malaysia or a Malaysian citizen were affected.

Comments

Two teenagers arrested for raping 14-year-old girl in Ogun State

Two teenagers, Abiodun Ishola (19) and Kehinde Oloyede (18), have been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly gang-raping a 14-year-old girl in Obantoko. The Command Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the suspects were arrested April 28, 2018 following a complaint from the victim who reported to the police. He said the victim, a hairdressing apprentice, said she was going to her boss’ shop on that day, and unknown to her, there was restriction of movement due to a sanitation exercise. He said one of the suspects, Ishola, who was sitting down in front of his father’s house informed her of the restriction of movement and asked her to come and stay in their house till the exercise ended. The victim told the police that while she was staying with Ishola, he took her bag inside...

Woman cuts off her husband's penis because she suspect him of cheating

A wife chopped off her husband's penis with a pair of scissors while he was brushing his teeth because she suspected he was cheating after starting a new job. The man, named only as Li, from the Jiangxi Province city of Fengcheng, told shocked medics that his wife maimed his genitals in a desperate attempt for him not to stray. He said his possessive wife attacked him while he was naked in the bathroom at about 7.30 in the morning. After she inflicted the injury on him, he managed to cover his blood-drenched groin to stop the bleeding before taking himself to a hospital. Doctors said they had successfully reattached Li’s penis but warned him to be extra careful while recovering. But reports from Knews and Sohu claim that even if he heals properly, he might never be able to have sex properly again as a sudden erection could damage new blood vessels. Police are said to be investigating the case.

EFCC kicks against the acquittal of ex-Sokoto governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, vows to appeal judgement

EFCC has described as “shocking and unacceptable”, the ruling by Justice Bello Abbas of the Sokoto State High Court which on July 31 discharged and acquitted a former governor of Sokoto State Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa and four others of a 22 count charge of conspiracy, criminal misappropriation, theft and receiving of stolen funds. Others acquitted alongside Bafarawa are Beedash Nigeria Limited, Nasdabap Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Nasiru Dalhatu Bafarawa and Alhaji Salihu Maibuhu Gummi. In the course of the trial EFCC had called nine witnesses and presented several documents that were admitted in evidence while the defendants called only six witnesses. Surprisingly, Justice Abbas discharged and acquitted the accused persons of all counts on the premise that the evidence presented by the prosecution were “mere hearsay”, that there were “no documentary evidence” to back up the claim of witnesses...

Startech Safety And Security News Blog

Search This Blog