RM100k fine for fake news on Covid-19 and other news you may have missed

KINI ROUNDUP | Here are key headlines you may have missed, in brief.

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1. The federal government has gazetted an ordinance supposedly to combat "fake news" relating to Covid-19 or the emergency proclamation. However, in reality, this law gives the government sweeping powers, with grave implications for press freedom.

It allows for a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both for spreading fake news.

Opposition MPs and journalism watchdogs hit out at the move, saying it was far too heavy-handed and was a revival of the now-repealed Anti-Fake News Act pushed through by Najib's government.

2. Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister James Masing chastised Umno and PAS over their call for the government to appeal a court ruling on the use of the word "Allah".

3. Jaya Rani’s five schoolgoing children have been sharing their mother’s smartphone to attend online classes since March last year, as it is the only electronic device in the family. But Seremban MP Anthony Loke, Malaysiakini readers and the general public chipped in to help them with more devices and other forms of aid.

4. The RM10,000 compound which will be imposed on those found violating the movement control order (MCO) and health SOPs can be lessened through an appeal at Health Department district offices, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said.

He said police issuing the compounds do not have the power to reduce the amount of the fine as their only duty is to issue the compound to the offender.

5. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was questioned for an hour at the Timur Laut District police station yesterday morning over a joint statement by the Pakatan Harapan presidential council on Jan 12, which rejected the government's argument for a prolonged state of emergency.

6. Two school leavers caught on camera riding a motorcycle while wearing uniforms scribbled with obscenities against a teacher were charged in the Magistrate's Court in Kota Bharu.

7. Singaporean businessperson Wong Sang Woo @ Wong Shuh Chain told an MACC officer he felt "special" to be asked by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for an RM10 million donation. This was stated by the MACC officer during Zahid's breach of trust, corruption and money laundering trial in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.

8. Bersatu Youth distanced itself from Senate president Rais Yatim, saying the latter's views on voting rights for 18-year-olds do not represent the government.

This came after critics hit out at Rais, who is Jelebu Bersatu chief, for saying that letting 18-year-olds vote in the forthcoming 15th general election was impractical.

Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) co-founder Lim Wei Jiet said Rais' remarks contradicted the government's July deadline to gazette the new eligible voting age.

9. Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador denied claims that the police force is being used as a tool to support the Perikatan Nasional government.

10. PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasir blasted Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz for ignoring structural issues such as low wages in his statement that millennials are spending beyond their means.