Dewan Rakyat has again passed the repeal of the Anti-Fake News Bill 2019 today.
A total of 92 lawmakers voted for the abolition of the bill, while 51 lawmakers wanted the bill to remain.
Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Arif Md Yusof called for a bloc voting at the request of the opposition leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
A total of 25 lawmakers participated in the policy stage debate over the past two days.
The bill was first approved by the Dewan Rakyat in August last year, but it was later defeated by the then BN-controlled Dewan Negara.
The government again tabled the bill earlier this week.
The Anti-Fake News Act 2018 was introduced by the previous BN government at the height of the 1MDB scandal which it had attempted to cover up.
The new government has struggled with fake news, but maintains it can be dealt with under other existing laws.
The legislation had raised concern due to its wide-ranging powers, including allowing the government to compel any publication to remove reports that are deemed to contain "fake news".
[More to follow] - Mkini
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