PUTRAJAYA, March 12 — The enforcement of the Emergency (Essential Powers) (No.2) Ordinance 2021 is specifically aimed to tackle fake news on COVID-19 and Emergency Proclamation, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
He said the ordinance is a short-term remedy to curb the spread of fake news on the pandemic and the Proclamation of Emergency to ensure public order and safety.
“This (ordinance enforcement) is only for the emergency period…It is not going to be forever,” he said while refuting the allegation that the ordinance was politically motivated.
Saifuddin said this at a joint press conference with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan here on the ordinance which took effect today.
He said the ordinance enforcement will be carried out by the Royal Malaysia Police and Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) officers.
“The ordinance is aimed at expediting the process of enforcement, investigation and prosecution, while the court proceedings remain unchanged,” he said, adding that 270 cases of fake news on COVID-19 and 16 cases relating to the Proclamation of Emergency are currently being investigated by the police and the MCMC.
