Fake news in Malaysia. Hmmm. Free speech may matter less there? I'll deliver a parable, of sorts, attempting to illustrate why such an action might not bode well for our form of democracy:

[In one of my own essays, I argued with myself about whether Philosophy was of any practical use in this world. In that personal confrontation, it was necessary to revisit the European Enlightenment (circa 16th century) and some of the eminent thinkers of that period. Through a bit of investigation, it was affirmed that old world fops and gadflies had a pronounced influence upon the US' founding fathers, and some mothers. Turns out that the emergent governmental structure had more than a little in common with the thinking and ideas of some fops and gadflies. I lost my own original argument. Philosophy augments our ability to think, either directly or indirectly.]

Therefore, if you are among the many who think of Philosophy as useless, pedantic puffery, let me suggest you re-read some historical documents. The Declaration of Independence is a good one, as is the US Constitution. Possibly, even the Federalist Papers. Take your time. You may change your mind.

Now, depending on who you believe, there has always been fake news. The Church treated science and astronomy as fake news when they failed to tow the ecclesiastical line. The penalties for such 'fake' news could be severe, but, at the time, the Church was unassailable; treated as an infallible force, making it a powerful adversary. I don't know if Malaysia really wants to 'go there'. Yet, perhaps that IS EXACTLY the place to which their rulers want to return. Even here, in the enlightened West, we still have flat-earthers. I don't think we throw them in jail for that...we certainly would not want to enact a law prohibiting flat-earth beliefs---would we?