BN And PAS Senators Have Voted To Keep The Anti-Fake News Act
This marks Pakatan Harapan's first defeat since it came to power.
By Jia Vern Tham — 12 Sep 2018, 06:06 PM
The Dewan Negara rejected the government's bid to repeal the controversial Anti-Fake News Act 2018 in a sitting earlier today, 12 September
The Malaysian Insight reported that 28 Senators from Barisan Nasional (BN) and Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) voted against abolishing the Act, while 21 Pakatan Harapan Senators voted in favour of it.
Three Senators were absent when the Anti-Fake News (Abolition) Bill 2018 was put to vote.
According to Bernama, the rejection was announced by Senate President Tan Sri S. A. Vigneswaran after the block voting.
This is the Senate's first rejection of a bill in Malaysian history, marking its divorce from being perceived as the government's "rubber stamp".
Previously, Dewan Negara only instructed for bills to be sent back to the Dewan Rakyat for amendments.
However, Malay Mail reported Federal Constitution expert and Perak state executive councillor Dr. Abdul Aziz Bari as saying today that Senators are only allowed to block the passing of a bill for a maximum of 12 months.
A Senator from United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) revealed that Opposition Senators voted against the repeal as they believed that the Act could be improved instead of being abolished
"I understand that this is a very unpopular law, but we must also recognise that we live in a world of fast information. Just this week, the Prime Minister was a target of fake news," Senator Khairul Azwan Harun was quoted as saying by Malay Mail.
Khairul also referenced the impact of fake news on elections in the United States.
"Grand old institutions, such as the US democracy, have had their elections compromised precisely because of targeted misinformation. The threat is real and I fear our political landscape is too young to be further polarised because of fake news," the Senator added.
The decision today contradicts a prediction made by Malaysian Senators Council president Datuk Khairuddin Abd Samad last month
"I think the bill to repeal the law (Anti-Fake News Act 2018) will be passed (in the Dewan Negara) because the number of BN Senators is reducing," Khairudin was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.
He also claimed that the number of Pakatan Harapan Senators is increasing.
"It is not going to serve any purpose for them (BN Senators) to go against the will of the rakyat, who want the Anti-Fake News Act repealed," Khairudin added.
Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman labeled the Senate's decision as a "backstabbing"
Syed Saddiq speaking to reporters during a press conference in Menara KBS, Putrajaya earlier today.
Image via Malay Mail"The Senate has somewhat backstabbed us," Syed Saddiq was quoted as saying by The Star at a press conference when asked to comment on the Dewan Negara's decision today.
He also questioned if the Act should be retained, as it affects Malaysians' freedom of expression and freedom of press.
The Act was repealed by the Dewan Rakyat on 16 August despite fierce resistance from Opposition Members of Parliament (MP)
Malay Mail reported last month that BN and PAS MPs strongly argued in favour of the Act throughout a six-hour debate in the Dewan Rakyat.
"Although it is true many Acts have been misused before, repealing it should not be the main focus but instead sticking to the right track," PAS deputy president and Kubang Kerian MP Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was quoted as saying by Malay Mail.