KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — The government today denied that press freedom in the country has deteriorated, saying that Malaysian media is freer than it has ever been.
The declaration came after news that Malaysia tumbled 23 places to land at 147th spot in the World Press Freedom Index for 2014, putting it below Thailand, Indonesia and even Myanmar.
“Malaysia enjoys an open and vibrant online media. Anyone who visits a Malaysian news websites or political blogs can see for themselves how free the online media is,” the government said in a statement.
It added that print media licencing laws have been relaxed under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“The requirement to renew print licences annually has been removed, and the home minister’s authority to block, allow or revoke licences has been opened up to judicial review,” the statement said.
The latest annual survey of press freedom in 180 countries by global media watchdog, Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) put Malaysia ahead of the Philippines, which placed 149th; Singapore in 150th position; Laos (171st) and Vietnam (174th).
The index is derived from RSF’s surveys with among others, non-profit organisations, journalists and law experts and takes into account the number of violations against press freedom in a country, such as censorship and assaults on journalists.
RSF said that Malaysia’s slide began in 2002, as access to information Malaysia now below Myanmar in world press freedom index became “more and more limited”.
The report did not disclose the reason for the latest decline.
