KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak pledged tonight to preserve the Internet as a medium for free debate and open discussion, saying that he welcomes informed and constructive criticisms while backing the empowerment of journalists to hold government and corporations to account.

Speaking at the National Press Club awards, he said politicians also had a responsibility not to seek cheap headlines while journalists should report accurately and fairly.

“I have given my firm commitment to preserving the internet as a medium for free debate and open discussion. Online, and on social media, Malaysians daily exercise their right to comment and criticise.

“This, too, is part of the democratic process. In a democracy, there will always be people who disagree with your policies, or disapprove of your government. I welcome criticism which is informed and constructive.”

The prime minister said that the country needs social development as well as economic growth as it moves towards developed nation status.

This, he said, includes a more open media environment.

“A strong and vibrant media is an essential part of a mature democracy. When journalists are empowered, society can benefit. The press can hold governments, corporations and people to account. At its best, the media holds a mirror up to society; so that we may see our flaws, and fix them.”

In his speech, he also highlighted measures already undertaken to liberalise the media, including his decision to revoke the requirement for newspapers to renew their print licenses annually.

“But there is a difference between legitimate criticism, and defamation. Defamation can be either primary — when someone makes a defamatory remark — or secondary, when that remark is reproduced. Both are treated equally by the law.

“It is my legal team’s opinion that recent allegations by an online news portal overstepped the line. They have therefore issued a legal notice.”

The PM was referring to his move to take legal action against Malaysiakini for allegedly defaming him by publishing allegations of impropriety with regards to the recent Terengganu mentri besar saga.

Najib and Umno demanded that Malaysiakini issue an unconditional apology and withdraw the articles, besides providing compensation and a written undertaking to refrain from publishing any other defamatory statements.

But the news portal stressed that it would rely “on the defences of qualified privilege, fair comment and the guarantees of a free press” in accordance to rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

“I want be very clear: this does not indicate any wider agenda. It is not part of any crackdown; it is not an attempt to silence critical voices. The law is blind, and any damages will have to fit the defamatory remarks. It is a matter of acting on specific accusations which cross the line from fair comment into slander.

“Both government and opposition leaders in Malaysia have taken legal action against organisations which they believe have breached the law. And that is not unusual: in democracies, legal action against alleged defamation in the media is an appropriate recourse,” Najib said tonight.

He said it was part of another balancing act between being open to constructive public criticism whilst holding public office, and the fundamental right to protect one’s dignity and good name from being recklessly attacked as a result of political beliefs.

“In today’s self-reflective media environment — when online reaction to a story can become a story itself — all of us will occasionally get the balance wrong. What matters is how we react, respond, and move on.

The PM added that the public, journalists and politicians had to work together to avoid inflammatory statements and to ease tensions.

“Politicians have a responsibility not to seek cheap headlines with provocative remarks. Journalists have a responsibility to report accurately and fairly. And people have a responsibility to think about the content they share in the heat of the moment.”