We’re #1! Well, no, not really: Malaysia tumbled 23 spots to land at 147th place in the World Press Freedom Index 2014, ending up lower on the ladder than regional neighbours Thailand, Indonesia and even Myanmar.
In the annual survey of 180 countries by global media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), Malaysia’s standing in the region is only better than the Philippines (149th), Singapore (150th), Laos (171st) and Vietnam (174th).
Thailand and Indonesia shared the 130th spot, and Cambodia rose nine places from last year to place 132nd. Myanmar, once seen as being under a repressive regime, made significant improvements to its press freedoms to place 145th with more license issuances for new publications and allowing previously-exiled media outlets to once again set up operations in Rangoon.
The report did not disclose the reason for Malaysia’s slip from 124th place last year to its current position in 2014.
The World Press Freedom Index is derived from RSF’s surveys with non-profit organizations, journalists and law experts, and takes into account the number of violations against press freedoms in a country, such as censorship and violence and intimidation against journalists.
In a response to the index announcement, DAP parliamentary adviser Lim Kit Siang proclaimed Malaysia’s new low placement is “the worst setback to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s ‘best democracy in the world’ claim.”
Kit Siang, who is MP for Gelang Patah, had predicted recently that Malaysia’s ranking would be hurt by Putrajaya’s decision to suspend HCK Media’s weekly publication The Heat last year.
The Heat was suspended on December 19 over what was then believed to be a report critical of the Prime Minister’s spending, but the official Putrajay line was the freeze was imposed due to violations of provisions contained within The Heat’s printing permit. The suspension was lifted in last week.
Newspapers and periodicals in Malaysia are subject to the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) that requires a licence before they are allowed to operate.
In 2011, Prime Minister Najib announced the cessation of the annual renewal of printing permits as part of his reforms to provide Malaysians with greater civil liberties.
Photo: Gavin Firkser / Flickr
Source: The Malay Mail Online
