Kuala Lampur, March 31 -- The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has urged the government to reinstate the repealed Anti-Fake News Act, after a series of arrests involving those who spread disinformation about the Covid-19 outbreak.

In a statement today, National MIC Youth leader R. Thinalan said that the law is now proven necessary, as such disinformation affects the work of the frontliners who are fighting Covid-19, by worsening the panic surrounding the spread of the virus, and hampering effort to contain the outbreak.

"For example, several fake news regarding a complete lockdown similar to what has been imposed in Italy, caused many to crowd places such as shopping malls for panic buying and bus stops to travel back to their hometowns....