Speaking to FMT, Jahabar, who runs The Malaysian Insight, said once the law comes into effect, most of the news will come from government and government-sanctioned or controlled media outlets.
“We will live in a matrix, shaped and defined by the government of the day.”
He said the law wouldn’t just affect media practitioners but everyone as it would allow the government to define what is fact and fiction.
Earlier today, the Dewan Rakyat tabled the controversial Anti-Fake News Bill 2018, which makes it an offence to create, offer, publish, distribute, circulate or disseminate fake news, punishable with a fine not exceeding RM500,000 and up to 10 years’ jail, or both.
When asked about the implications of a RM500,000 fine for news portals, Jahabar said it would mean “closing shop and being bankrupted for life”.
Meanwhile, Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan described the law as “another tool of oppression”, saying that the country already had a number of laws which could be used to combat fake news.
“This new law is more than just another layer of control by the government; it is a death blow to the sliver of democracy that we have,” he said in an article posted on the website.
“Fake news is now whatever the government says it is. Two plus two do not make four if the government says so.
“This Anti-Fake News Bill is plunging the country into an Orwellian nightmare,” he added.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) urged Putrajaya to re-examine the bill in depth with other relevant bodies before it is implemented to clearly define its applications.
In a statement, NUJ general secretary Chin Sung Chew voiced concern over the law’s wide-reaching implications on the media industry, due to the heavy penalties on sources, funders and publishers as well as the law’s capacity to force organisations to remove articles.
“The union also questions Clause 8(3), which states a removal order by the government against a publication, that is possibly prejudicial to public order or national security, cannot be applied to be set aside.
“We are gravely concerned that a law allowing one party to have unquestionable power to remove articles it disagrees with could be easily abused.”
Media freedom advocacy group Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) also hit out at the proposed law, urging its supporters to join its online Twitter campaign to reclaim the rights of journalists to perform their duties.
In a statement, it said the definition of fake news was too broad and could easily be used as a tool to stifle freedom of press, free speech and expression.
“The government should not be allowed to have a monopoly over what is defined as fake news.
“The best tool to fight against fake news is not with another oppressive law but through enforcing rights to freedom of information.”
Under the bill, fake news is described as any news, information, data or report, which is wholly or partly false, whether in the form of features, visuals, audio recordings or any other form, capable of suggesting words or ideas.
It will also be an offence to directly or indirectly provide financial assistance to facilitate the spread of fake news or to abet the offence.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said had said the bill was drawn up “in the interests of the people” in order “to protect them” from being misinformed and flooded with unverified news.
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