Malaysia MPs throw out law against ‘fake news’ introduced by former PM

Malaysia’s parliament on Thursday repealed a law against “fake news” introduced this year by the administration of former prime minister Najib Razak. Najib’s government secured a simple majority in April to pass the Anti-Fake News 2018 bill, which set out fines of up to 500,000 ringgit ($123,000) and jail of up to six years, Reuters said. Critics denounced the law as repressive and accused Najib of trying to curb free speech ahead of a May general election. His government tried to fend off criticism over accusations of graft and mismanagement. Najib lost the election to an opposition alliance led by former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who had promised to scrap the law. Malaysia was among the first few countries to introduce an anti-fake news law. Other countries in the region, including Singapore and the Philippines, have said they are considering how to tackle “fake news.”