Lim Guan Eng, who was recently announced as finance minister in the new cabinet lineup, has clarified that Pakatan Harapan’s stance on the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 is unchanged.

When asked about prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement that what constitutes ‘fake news’ will need to be redefined, Lim insisted Harapan is still set on repealing the contentious law.

"Did he say he is not going to abolish it?

"He did not say he is not going to abolish it, which is the same point I am making.

"The Harapan position has always been to abolish the Anti-Fake News Act. I will clarify with him (Mahathir) when I see him tomorrow, but I believe his position is still the same," the DAP secretary-general said in a press conference in his George Town office.

"As far as we are concerned, Harapan's position remains the same."

"We cannot accept that the government – even though we are the government now – determines what is true or false.

"It should be based on facts and just because we say something is true, does not mean is true. And just because we say something is false, it is false,” he added.

Though not clarifying whether the existing AFN would be amended or repealed, Mahathir said in a televised interview yesterday that “fake news laws will be given clear definitions.”

The prime minister said that the new government would not restrict the press regardless of their leanings, but warned that any efforts to instigate the people would not be tolerated.

In today’s press conference, Lim reiterated that that the AFN was designed by the previous BN administration to cover up the 1MDB scandal.

He claimed that the law was intended to imprison those who spoke about the 1MDB scandal.

"Anyone who said 1MDB is true has to go to prison for six years and fine up to RM500,000.

"I think that is wrong, it is against the freedom of press and speech, fundamental human rights.

"I am confident that the position remains the same, even for Mahathir," he stressed.