Jail awaits those who spread false 1MDB news
The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has warned the public not to spread false news about the 1MDB controversy through social networks.
“The public is advised to stop spreading manipulated photos, unverified news, or any speculation on the investigations into 1MDB through social networks including the application ‘Whatsapp’,” MCMC said in a statement today.
They also reminded people that it might be a crime to spread these “false news” under Section 211 or 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act of 1998.
Section 211 states that no one shall “provide content which is indecent, obscene, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person”. Section 233 contains similar language.
Anyone found guilty under these two provisions will be subjected to a fine not exceeding RM50,000, or to imprisonment not exceeding a year, or both.
If millions of Malaysians are prepared to be threatened like this, then Najib and his colleagues can start laughing.
This communique does not even bother to specify what this “false news” about 1MDB might be.
They are just trying to silence timid people from talking about the issue that is causing so much damage to their own reputation.
This is because the actual criminal behaviour lies with their actions at 1MDB and not with those who are pointing it out.
People make desperate threats when indeed jail awaits them.