INTERVIEW | Former information minister Rais Yatim has called on Putrajaya not to be too hasty in its efforts to table a new law against fake news.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, Rais said the government has yet to even define what would be considered as "fake news" but is now expected to table the law in the Dewan Rakyat in this current session.

In general, the senior adviser to the government said, fake news could be defined as news that has no basis or is untrue, but is shared to achieve a certain agenda.

"This (exact) definition has not been finalised (by the government) but they are now drafting a new law," said Rais, who is International Islamic University Malaysia president, when met at his office on the campus in Gombak.

As an example, he questioned whether an inaccurate news report would also fall under the ambit of the new law...