KUALA LUMPUR: The controversial Anti-Fake News Repeal Bill 2019 was passed in the Dewan Rakyat today after two days of fierce debate by parties on both sides of the political divide.
A total of 92 people voted for the bill while 51 voted against the bill.
The voting was held through a voting process after the earlier voice vote was called off.
Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said the voice vote was a tie. Due to that, another manual voting process was needed.
The bill was first approved in the Dewan Rakyat in August last year but the Senate had rejected the bill.
The bill was introduced by Barisan Nasional at the height if the 1MDB scandal, causing the rakyat to be uncomfortable with the move.
MPs from both sides of the political divide put forward their points with BN MPs urging the government to retain the bill while PH MPs urged the government to repeal it as the bill may be misused by those in power.