GEORGE TOWN: The New Straits Times was accused of publishing fake news today with a report on an Umno politician’s claim that the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang would be Pakatan Harapan’s choice of prime minister.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, citing the NST report, asked if mainstream newspapers would be exempt from the proposed Anti-Fake News Act, which has been approved by Parliament.
The article quoted Umno supreme council member and domestic trade minister Hamzah Zainudin as saying that Kit Siang would be the Pakatan Harapan choice.
But at a press conference today, Guan Eng pointed out that the opposition had repeatedly stated that Pakatan’s prime minister-designate is Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“All parties in Pakatan Harapan have endorsed Mahathir as our future prime minister. But NST, Utusan Malaysia and other mainstream newspapers choose to publish fake stories, despite knowing the truth,” he said.
The NST report, “PH’s choice for PM is Kit Siang”, quoted Hamzah as saying that Kit Siang would be entrusted with the PM’s post because of “trust issues” with Mahathir.
Hamzah also claimed Mahathir’s mission was to make his son Mukhriz the future prime minister.
Lim said Hamzah’s claims had been clearly denied before, and thus the article could be deemed to be fake news.
The government has tabled the Anti-Fake News Bill, which was been approved by both houses of Parliament and awaits royal assent before it becomes law.
The bill defines fake news as “any news, information, data and reports which is, or are, wholly or partly false, whether in the form of features, visuals or audio recordings or in any other form capable of suggesting words or ideas.”
The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of up to RM500,000, or up to six years’ jail, or both.
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