A 28-year-old housewife in Perlis became the first person in Malaysia to be fined under the new Emergency (Essential Powers) (No. 2) Ordinance 2021 for spreading fake news on COVID-19. She was fined RM5,000 by the Sessions Court after pleading guilty for spreading fake news via instant messaging.
She was charged for using WhatsApp that was registered under her number to spread fake news with the intention to cause fear and distress among the public. The crime was committed at Kampung Belukar, Arau at 10.31am on 18th April 2021.
It was alleged that she shared unverified news about the spread of COVID-19 at a school in Arau which caused unnecessary panic among the residents and students at the school. Prosecutor had requested an appropriate punishment to serve as a lesson to the public not to simply share or upload news that is not true.
The accused’s lawyer had requested for leniency as the accused was pregnant. She also has to take care of two children and her husband had recently lost his job as a lorry driver. The judge later had imposed a fine of RM5,000 and she could be jailed for 5 months if she failed to pay the fine. It was reported that she paid the fine.
In separate news, a 50-year-old tuition teacher in Johor was charged under the Emergency Ordinance for spreading fake news about COVID-19 vaccines. It was reported that he uploaded a photo on Facebook which appears to suggest that a person had died due to the vaccine. He had shared a photo showing several police officers giving assistance to an officer lying on the floor with the caption “Mati lagi… di Pontian, vaksin kedua” (Another death… in Pontian, second vaccine).
The judge has a set bail of RM8,000 with one surety and has set 7th July to manage the case and submission of documents.
Under the Emergency (Essential Powers) (No. 2) Ordinance 2021, a person found guilty for creating and spreading fake news can be liable to a fine not exceeding RM100,000, imprisonment of not more than 3 years or both. Addressing concerns of potential abuse, Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said the Ordinance is very specific and it is intended to counter fake news on COVID-19 and the Emergency.
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