Kit Siang: How to interpret Putrajaya's mixed signals about fake news ordinance?
Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang asked who the people should listen to when ministers are sending mixed signals about the Emergency (Essential Powers) (No 2) Ordinance 2021 which granted the government sweeping powers to combat purported "fake news".
Lim noted that while Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah yesterday assured that the government will differentiate between criticisms and fake news, his colleague Takiyuddin Hassan, who is the de facto law minister, has given a different message...
Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang asked who the people should listen to when ministers are sending mixed signals about the Emergency (Essential Powers) (No 2) Ordinance 2021 which granted the government sweeping powers to combat purported "fake news".
Lim noted that while Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah yesterday assured that the government will differentiate between criticisms and fake news, his colleague Takiyuddin Hassan, who is the de facto law minister, has given a different message.
Takiyuddin had on Friday said views that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government had sought a state of emergency because it had lost its majority in the Dewan Rakyat was tantamount to "fake news" under the ordinance.
"Which is which? Would Saifuddin or Takiyuddin’s view prevail?" Lim asked in a statement today.
The government's official position is that the emergency, which came into force on Jan 11, was intended to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
It had also used the same emergency to create laws by decree, including the anti-fake news ordinance, without going through Parliament.
Parliament is suspended during the emergency which will only expire in August.
Critics have expressed concern that the vague definition of "fake news" in the ordinance, which provides a fine of up to RM100,000 or up to three years imprisonment or both, could lead to abuse.
Lim urged Attorney-General Idrus Harun to provide clarity on the matter.
"The assurance by Saifuddin, that the purpose of the Emergency (Essential Powers) (No 2) Ordinance 2021 is not to curb media freedom and prevent any parties from criticising the government, is of no value unless the attorney-general makes his position clear whether he would prosecute any person under the fake news Emergency Ordinance for alleging that the proclamation of emergency was made because (Prime Minister) Muhyiddin (Yassin) had lost his majority in Parliament," he said.
The DAP stalwart also questioned if the ordinance was aimed at controlling criticism about double standards in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
He added that the government should work on overcoming the pandemic rather than engaging in something that is divisive, disruptive and subversive of public trust and confidence.
"In fact, the authorities should take a leaf from US President Joe Biden, who announced that every American adult would be eligible for a coronavirus vaccination by May 1 and set the July 4 Independence Day as a target for a return to some normality.
"What can Malaysians look forward to on National Day on Aug 31 and Malaysia Day on Sept 16, 2021?" Lim said.
The PN government has had to deal with a fragile majority in the Dewan Rakyat, partly due to a faction in Umno that has threatened to withdraw support for the prime minister.
At least three Umno MPs have renounced Muhyiddin but the premier managed to regain his majority after three PKR MPs defected to his side during the emergency, the most recent being former PKR vice-president Dr Xavier Jayakumar.
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