She said the first reading of the bill in the Dewan Rakyat is scheduled for next week.

“A briefing session for backbenchers and opposition MPs on the bill will be held very soon,” she said in a statement.

Azalina explained that the bill targeted several offences relating to the spread of fake news and also outlined measures to curb the menace.

The bill, she said, was formulated in the public interest to protect Malaysians from a deluge of fake news and prevent people from becoming victims of the scourge.

“However, the bill does not curb freedom of expression as provided for by the constitution,” she said.

Azalina added that the government hoped that everyone would welcome the bill and not polemicise the issue any further.

“At the same time, the bill also sends a clear message that the government will not compromise with anything that can disrupt public order and national security,” she said.

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