The government is looking into introducing laws to curb fake news which is a threat to political stability and public order.

Prime Minister Najib Razak said the move was necessary because the people could be instigated to hate the government or commit something like uprisings due to the influence of fake news.

"We don’t want this fake news to spread. This does not mean we control the internet, the internet is free but the freedom must exist with the elements of accountability,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after attending a function with Kelantan federal and state civil servants here today.

The media reported that Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May wanted to set up a new unit to intensify efforts to address the spread of fake news and prevent the dissemination of inaccurate information by other countries.

- Bernama