We do what works for Singapore, says Lee on its new fake news law

Following criticism from Reporters Without Borders (RWB) on its Protection From Online Falsehoods and Manipulation (Pofma) bill, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has defended the new law as being suitable for the island city-state.

Lee also believed that the Pofma bill had different provisions from Malaysia’s controversial Anti-Fake News (AFN) Act 2018 which Pakatan Harapan attempted to repeal when it came into power.

“I am not familiar with the details of the Malaysian AFN Act but I would be surprised if it has the same provisions as what is in our Pofma.

“But this is a problem. The problem of fake news (and) deliberate false statements that have proliferated online is a serious problem which confronts many countries. 

"Singapore is not the only one legislating on this issue,” he said when asked during a press conference held after the Singapore-Malaysia Leaders Retreat in Putrajaya today.

Lee brushed off RWB’s criticism on the bill saying the international press freedom watchdog body had criticised “many things about Singapore’s media management” in the past.

“What we have done has worked for Singapore and it is our objective to continue to do things that will work for Singapore.

“And I think Pofma will be a significant step forward in this regard,” he said.

RWB previously called Singapore's Pofma bill a “terrible” law for its high penalties, catch-all definitions and how it gave ministers “almost absolute power” to determine what was true and false.

It warned the law would censor internet users and impede freedom of speech.

The bill was tabled in the Singaporean parliament on April 1.

'Gov't may abuse law'

Meanwhile, Malaysian premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad explained Harapan’s reasoning behind getting rid of the AFN Act.

“In the case of Malaysia, we have made a promise that we will do away with the AFN law because this is what the people want.

“[...] when we have a law that prevents people from airing their views, then we are afraid the government itself may abuse the law as has happened with the last government.

“We do not want any government, this one and subsequent ones, to make use of the law in order to tell fake news or (allow) the government itself to create fake news in order to sustain themselves,” he told the same press conference.

Mahathir nevertheless recognised the challenges posed by social media but said the government was equipped to address them.

The Harapan government, after it came to power, tabled and passed the repeal of the BN-era AFN Act in the Dewan Rakyat only to have it blocked by the opposition-controlled Dewan Negara. - Mkini