Persons who initiate, disseminate lies on coronavirus shall be investigated - A-G

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 -- Any person who initiate and disseminate lies on any issue relating to the 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on the internet shall be investigated, and if a case exists, be charged, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas announced.

While saying that the decision was made in the national interest, Thomas said no freedom is absolute in any society at any of time in history.

“The constitutionally entrenched guarantees of free speech and expression and the statutorily guaranteed right not to censor the internet stated in Section 3(3) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 do not give a licence to propagate lies,” he said in a statement here today.

As the Public Prosecutor, Thomas said he took very seriously the incredible volume of lies relating to the coronavirus epidemic gripping the attention of Malaysians, and across the globe.

“This phenomenon is compounded by our obsession to introduce racial or religious overtones into every issue of public life. Hence, lies on the internet connecting coronavirus to any particular ethnic group is not only deplorable but inflammatory in our plural society of numerous ethnic and religious groups,” he said.

Thomas said charges will be made against the individuals concerned in the coming days.

“Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 is one option. However, elements required to be satisfied by the prosecution before a person can be convicted by a court under that provision do not fit into the category of offences that have been committed in recent times.

“It is clear that Section 233 should be the subject of Parliamentary amendment, hopefully soon,” he said.

Accordingly, he said the individuals concerned will be charged under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code which governs statements relating to public mischief.

“The key elements in this provision, which has been part of our criminal laws for decades, are the making of circulation of any statement or rumour which may cause fear or alarm resulting in anyone being induced to commit an offence against public tranquillity,” he said.

He said the Attorney-General’s Chambers, working with the police, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and other governmental agencies, is determined to prevent the spread of false statements concerning the coronavirus.

“Our health authorities must be allowed to deal with the problem in a calm and measured manner, without having to cope with extraneous matters. 

“Lies about the origins, scale and magnitude of the disease must not be permitted because they endanger public safety,” he added.

-- BERNAMA