Fadhli: Fight fake news with prompt truths, not by criminalising it

Outgoing PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari took a swipe at the government for allegedly stifling constitutional guarantees for freedom of speech by blocking news websites.

He said this was not the proper course of action when dealing with falsehoods.

"It is a violation of Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution when a minister restricts freedom of speech without clear and accurate reasons.

"Is it a government's right to determine what is true or inaccurate?" he said.

He added that the government - led by Pakatan Harapan - had forgotten that it abolished the anti-fake news law when it was in power in 2018.

While Fadhli did not name the portals that had been blocked, he is most likely referring to MalaysiaNow, TV Pertiwi, and UtusanTV.

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) have defended blocks against news outlets as being needed to combat fake news and slander.

Fadhli, however, said the government need not resort to such tactics.

"Slander or fake news should be handled with prompt explanations, not by criminalising it," he said.

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