Hadi: We backed Anti-Fake News Bill, just as we backed ISA

PAS voted in favour of the Anti-Fake News Bill 2018, just as how the party backed the formulation of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1957, said party president Abdul Hadi Awang.

He said that the bill will have a positive effect in "correcting the attitude and morals of the mass media in channeling information to society".

"PAS had supported the ISA in 1957, when the country was in the state of emergency while fighting the communists and extremists at the time," he said, according to Harakahdaily.

He said that PAS supported the ISA on principle, even though it was abused by the government, and even used on PAS members. The ISA was passed in 1960.

Similarly, Hadi said the party had an obligation to back the anti-fake news law.

"In Islam, we submit to ta'zir - meaning we leave it to the discretion of the judges and the government.

"Although this law might be abused, PAS wants to highlight the positive effects of the law in educating the public.

"It also makes it easier for PAS if we win (the elections). We can implement it without amendments," he said.

He said that PAS was the only party that was against fitnah (slander), because it was forbidden by God, unlike other parties.

"Maybe it will get in their way in the future. That is why they are opposing it," he said.

The Anti-Fake News Bill 2018 was passed by the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. Eleven PAS MPs voted in favour of the bill.

Critics, lawyers and even a United Nations special rapporteur have pointed out that the law was too broad, too vague, too punitive and will likely be abused.

For instance, Section 8 (3) of the bill states that there will be no appeal against court orders to remove "fake news" materials if the order was sought by the government on national security grounds. - Mkini