Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was listed for the third consecutive year as one of the top 10 'enemies' of the press for 2001 by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international media monitoring body based in New York.

CPJ said in statement today Mahathir was "openly contemptuous of press freedom" and had manipulated Malaysian media to "cement his hold on power". He has also signaled plans to introduce even more stringent controls on a severely constricted press, it added.

The list, which includes leaders on nine other countries, was released in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day today.

"Malaysian officials are now considering legislation to regulate the Internet, a crucial venue for independent news and opinion in a country where traditional media outlets are overwhelmingly controlled by Mahathir's political allies," said CPJ executive director Ann Cooper.

Cooper also said that Mahathir regularly "demonises" the foreign media for unfair reporting and that he had used the state's bureaucratic machinery to repeatedly block the circulation of international news magazines that featured articles on Malaysia.

On April 16, Mahathir said that the government was prepared to study existing laws, including the Printing Presses and Publication Act (PPPA), to make them more relevant to control the media. The next day he said the revision of the laws were necessary, particularly with respect to the Internet.

The PPPA, which governs local media, bans the publication of 'malicious news' and empowers authorities to ban or restrict the circulation of local publications.

Mahathir also added the international press did not care about accuracy when reporting about Malaysia. He claimed they hoped their reporting would deter foreign investment in the country.

In February, government censors delayed the clearance of two foreign news magazines, Asiaweek and the Far Eastern Economic Review.

Interference

In its annual report for last year, CPJ, founded in 1981 to monitor abuses against the press and promote press freedom around the world, said the Malaysian government used the PPPA and the Internal Security Act (ISA) to maintain a "stranglehold on the press".

"Virtually all mainstream newspapers in Malaysia are owned or controlled by parties allied with the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. Alternative publications were curbed or banned last year.

"Critical journalists were threatened with prosecution. There is no independent radio news, and allies of the prime minister control all television broadcasting," the report added.

The report also stated that the government had interfered with press freedom by reducing the publication of opposition party PAS' newspaper Harakah from twice weekly to twice monthly.

It added that Harakah's editor and printer charged with sedition for an article published in 1999.

"The printer pleaded guilty when the trial began in May and was fined RM3,200. Harakah's editor, Zulkifli Sulong, could face three years in jail if convicted," said the report.

The report also stated that in the course of the year, three other publications, the magazines Detik and Wasilah and the weekly tabloid Eksklusif, had their publication licenses cancelled or suspended by the Home Affairs Ministry, which controls media licensing.

Repeat offenders

On its annual list of press 'enemies', Cooper said this year CPJ focused attention on individual leaders who were responsible for the world's worst abuses against the media.

"At the top of CPJ's annual accounting of press tyrants this year, repeat offenders supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran and president Jiang Zemin of China are joined by Liberian president Charles Taylor," said Cooper.

She said newcomers to the list were president Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, president Vladimir Putin of Russia, and Colombian paramilitary leader Carlos Castao.

"Once more named perennial press freedom offenders are president Fidel Castro of Cuba (a seven-year veteran of the press 'enemies' list), president Zine Al-Abdine Ben Ali of Tunisia (listed for four years) and Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad (listed for three years)," said Cooper.

The 2001 CPJ 'Enemies of the Press' list

1) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran)

2) Charles Taylor (Liberian president)

3) Jiang Zemin (People's Republic of China president)

4) Robert Mugabe (President of Zimbabwe)

5) Vladimir Putin (President of Russia)

6) Carlos Castanno (United Self Defense Forces of Colombia leader)

7) Leonid Luchma (President of Ukraine)

8) Fidel Castro (President of Cuba)

9) Zine Al-Abdine Ben Ali (President of Tunisia)

10) Mahathir Mohamad (Malaysian PM)