Putrajaya should dissolve its committee to tackle "fake news" and replace it with a bipartisan parliamentary select committee, said DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.

According to Lim, the committee, which is headed by de facto Law Minister Azalina Othman Said, does not inspire public confidence in its present form.

He added that due to the composition of the committee – cabinet ministers, the police, the Attorney-General's Chambers, NGO members and lawmakers – it will likely be "weaponised" by the authorities to persecute legitimate political opponents.

The committee does not appear to be independent because Putrajaya and BN were presently the "biggest manufacturer" of "fake news," he said in a statement today, adding that "It will be like asking thieves to catch thieves!"

Lim pointed to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak manufacturing "fake news," such as on DAP's "anti-Malay and anti-Islam positions," the next general election being a contest between Umno and DAP, and how Malays would "suffer" if Umno loses.

In view of this, Lim questioned if the committee would take Najib and other Umno leaders to task for perpetuating such claims.

Regardless of who governs Malaysia after the next general election, he added, Malays will continue to be dominant in politics because of demographic, electoral and political realities.

The Azalina-led committee held its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, but its actual composition was not disclosed.

Azalina said the purpose of the committee was to propose legislation to tackle "fake news," because of its ability to disrupt political stability and threaten public order and security.