Malaysia has approved a new law Monday combating "fake" news. The law puts in place fines of up to 130-thousand dollars in place and a maximum six years in jail. The government said the law would not infringe on freedom of speech under the constitution. The law was hurried passed ahead of an impending general election. But opponents say it's unnecessary and open to abuse. Rian Maelzer reports from Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysians are among the world's heaviest users of social media such as Facebook and Whatsapp. And electronic billboards here remind them not to use those platforms to spread false information. Anyone doing so will now face up to 6 years in jail after the government passed an anti-fake news law.

NEW SIN YEW LAWYER "If we compare it to existing legislation which provides for a similar offence, for example spreading false reports, under the penal code, it's only punishable by five years imprisonment it is considered an offence against the state. what is the message? That spreading false news is worse than terrorism? surely that can't be right." 

The government says fake news is a serious threat.

SALLEH SAID KERUAK MALAYSIAN MINISTER OF INFORMATION "It affects individuals businesses, not necessarily you must look from a political perspective. We have to protect them. So people when we talk about fake news, we must not look only from the political perspective, not only from government perspective, maybe it happens to you to your family, how are you going to be protected, these are the issues."

RIAN MAELZER KUALA LUMPUR "Critics say that several existing Malaysian laws already protect against the malicious spread of false information including civil and criminal defamation, the Sedition Act and the Multimedia Act."

The political opposition, local and foreign journalists, human rights groups and the legal fraternity all loudly opposed the bill.

An 11th hour amendment did address one key concern, with the government changing the term "knowingly" spreading false information, to "maliciously" doing so. But the government hastily pushed the legislation through before it dissolves parliament to clear the way for a general election. And that has still left worries that critics of the ruling alliance will be the law's main target. Rian Maelzer, CGTN, Kuala Lumpur.