He said the country was facing “seditious and fake news threats” which were currently being dealt with through provisions under existing laws.

An anti-fake news law had once come into force in April 2018 during the tenure of former prime minister Najib Razak but was repealed after Pakatan Harapan took over. It carried a fine of up to RM500,000 or a six-years jail upon conviction, among other penalties.

In a parliamentary reply, Takiyuddin said besides the use of existing laws, the government had also carried out initiatives in discerning what was accurate news through ministerial bodies.

It is undeniable that fake news is a threat (including) spreading untruths and being used as a medium to spread seditious material which, at times, have offended the Malay rulers.

“We will continue to monitor fake news and engage stakeholders to find effective measures, including enacting a new (anti-fake news) law, if necessary,” he said in a written reply to Baling MP Abdul Azeez Rahim yesterday.

Azeez had asked if the government had plans to revive the 2018 anti-fake news law, as there were many seditious news articles being spread.

Separately, Takiyuddin said there were no plans to conduct a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the judiciary.

“There is no need for an RCI,” he said in response to a question from Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia had called for an RCI into allegations of judicial misconduct in an affidavit filed by Court of Appeal judge Hamid Sultan Abu Backer last year. The previous government had said it would form an RCI last February.