Malaysia orders ‘stern action’ against media misreporting government statements on COVID-19

Malaysian civil society groups have expressed concerns over the statement of the National Security Council directing the police and the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (KKMM) to take ‘stern action’ against online news websites that allegedly misreport government statements on COVID-19. Several media groups also criticized the release of an infographics detailing various types of ‘fake news’ which includes the posting of criticism against authorities. On April 11, 2020, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the KKMM and police have been ordered to take ‘stern action’ against news portals which publish news which are ‘confusing and inaccurate.’ He explained that this is necessary to provide the public with accurate information about COVID-19. Several civil society groups criticized the order and warned that it directly undermines free speech: A disproportionate response by directing punitive actions against media institutions can be counter-productive as it could shut down the flow of information and related public discourse that is crucial in dealing with public health issues.They also questioned why online news websites were singled out by the minister. They added that it is dangerous to allow the government to decide which statement has been ‘misquoted’ or ‘misreported’ by the media.

Governments cannot be the sole arbiters of truth by having the power to arbitrarily decide what information can and cannot be in the public domain and what has been “misquoted” or “misreported”. Article 19 chapter in Malaysia urged authorities to protect the work of media while the country is battling the COVID-19 pandemic: