For spreading information deemed by authorities “wholly or partly false” related to Covid-19 or the state of emergency, the maximum punishment is three years in prison and a 100,000 ringgit (US$24,000) fine.

First year in office marked by challenges for Malaysia’s Muhyiddin

Those found guilty of funding acts of publishing misinformation face a jail term of up to six years and a 500,000 ringgit fine, according to a copy of the law.

Communications Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said the ordinance would help expedite enforcement, investigation and prosecution by authorities, who would otherwise be hampered by old laws that are ill equipped to deal with the rapid expansion of social media.

“Our interest is in fighting Covid-19 and we will do whatever it takes ... we take cognisance of the fact that we have to be fair, we have to be just in carrying out our duties,” Saifuddin told a news conference.

The NGO Centre for Independent Journalism said it was “deeply shocked and appalled” by the new law, and accused the government of using its emergency powers to “stifle any criticism of the current administration”.

The government was seeking “to use any means possible to undermine our fundamental rights and freedoms”, it said in a statement.

Najib lost power in historic elections the same year, and the law was repealed in 2019. But the reformist administration that defeated him fell apart last year, and Muhyiddin seized power.

Trapped in Macau: the Singaporeans and Malaysians desperate to get home

Since then, there have been concerns that freedom of expression is under attack, with police launching investigations into a growing number of government critics.

There have also been worries in other Asian countries that governments are using the virus as an excuse to crack down on opponents and silence dissent.

Additional reporting by Reuters