YOURSAY | ‘We should be cautious, but we cannot allow ourselves to be subjugated.’

Anti-fake news law - Najib’s shock and awe

David Dass: We now have a much-criticised anti-fake news law that was rushed through Parliament without public consultation. The definition of fake news is broad and vague, and there is uncertainty as to what is fake news and who decides what is fake news.

The penalties are severe and could, if imposed, cripple individuals and organisations. And Malaysiakini says that if we fear the law and self-censor so as to be safe, we could lose our freedom of expression and we would live in fear.

There is a problem with allegations of corruption and wrongdoing by individuals or agencies or bodies within the country that have been “cleared” by our authorities. To continue to raise those allegations may result in action being taken under the Anti-Fake News Bill.

It may not be possible to defend those allegations on the basis of reports published in foreign publications and investigations conducted by other nations. They could, under this law, be considered fake news.

It is a difficult time for Malaysians. We should be cautious but we cannot, as one commenter says, subjugate ourselves or allow ourselves to be subjugated.

Government ministers have said that freedom of speech will be unaffected, and the object is to go after those who maliciously and intentionally create or transmit false news. We should take them at their word.

Vijay47: How low we have fallen. Once we were the shining star of Southeast Asia, even of Asia, led by men of honour, bound towards a future of almost unlimited brightness.

Then gradually greed, deceit, and betrayal crept in as governing was seen only as a path to unimaginable riches. The hopes we placed on each renewed government dissipated soon enough, each band obsessed with outdoing the previous until we have reached a status where the world views us with undisguised contempt.

Would Tunku Abdul Rahman and the other founding fathers have even visualised a Malaysia where truth is what the government says it is, falsehood what the government decrees?

Coming hot on the heels of the shameful redelineation exercise, the fake news law is another chain to shackle us to an evil regime, but the nightmare does not end there – almost every enforcement authority has been brought to heel so as to ensure the continuation of villainy and in particular, the survival of one man and his cohorts.

The darkness may be smothering us, yet we must lift our eyes toward the mountains where our help will surely come from.

Wira: Thank you Malaysiakini for your incessant determination to bring what you believe is the truth to Malaysia. Your fairness in reporting, always leaving a space for the affected to respond, is unique to news media in this country.

Should you get into trouble for being honest, rest assured that Malaysians will rise to publicly fund your defence in court.

We need more of your kind. In defiance for the sake of reporting the other side of the story to all Malaysians.

Cogito Ergo Sum: In the old days, journalists knew what the government would tolerate and what it did not. It was an art and science to walk that fine line.

This anti-fake news law means there is zero tolerance for its version of the truth. No longer is the government answerable to the people, but the people are now supposed to be “beholden” to them for the multitude of blessings, including the news, it has bestowed upon its citizenry. We have become what we have feared most: a despicable dictatorship.

While Malaysiakini is adamant in publishing the truth and facts, what is the point if this gets you shut down, arrested and bankrupted?

Perhaps, the art and the science of reporting must be further refined and done intelligently. We desperately need our version of “Newspeak” as an antidote to all these anti-common sense laws. Live long and prosper!

Fookchin: Well said and expressed, Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan. I share your views and conviction. And I think most (if not all) intelligent and wise Malaysians and foreign observers also share your views.

But Malaysiakini has to be extra vigilant, more tactful and careful when publishing news and articles which the powers-that-be hate to read or hear, no matter how true the facts are.

Alfanso: The biggest challenge would be the fight against stupidity - it is so prevalent now, in all areas, from parliament to public services. It is not just this fake news law but others, creeping slowly into our lives.

They are gaining confidence and the momentum, not realising that it is bound to destroy the very fabric of good governance, liberty, peace and rule of law. What a shame. And we have to do what we have to do - to act with our conscious mind.

Anonymous 1802761448130592: Steven Gan, Malaysiakini CEO Premesh Chandran and Malaysiakini, we are with you!

I am a subscriber of Malaysiakini and had stopped subscribing to mainstream newspapers for a long time now.

I had contributed to your Legal Defence Fund and will definitely make another contribution tomorrow. Let's top up the fund so that Malaysiakini can continue disseminating and defending the truth.

I appreciate Malaysiakini reporting on news from both sides of the political divide. It's their duty - and it is for us to discern the truth.

Clever Voter: The latest legislation on anti-fake news is one of the final nails in the coffin of parliamentary democracy.

Control over what constitutes fake news rests with an agency that presumably is unbiased, objective and truthful. Given the nature of the run-up to this piece of legislation, it is highly unlikely anyone in their right mind will trust this to ever take place.

Dissemination of information will continue to take place, but it will slow down, not cripple, the effectiveness of the opposition to hold the government accountable.

Easier said than done, those with deep conviction and courage will stand up and be counted, but at the risk of being locked up. We have learned from history that this is not the end.

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These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.