Malaysia’s lawmakers approved an anti-fake news law on Monday, despite numerous protests from opposition lawmakers and civil society groups that it would be misused to muffle dissent ahead of a general election expected within weeks. The Bill was voted through in Parliament’s Lower House with 123 votes for and 64 votes against after the Bill’s second reading.  The fake news law is seen as an effort at silencing debate regarding the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue connecting the country’s Prime Minister Najib Razak. The law originally proposed a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and fine of 500,000 ringgit (US$130,000) for publishing what authorities deem to be fake news, but the government lowered the jail term to six years following a storm of criticism.