Press freedom index: Another dive for Msia
Pauline PuahPublished: Oct 28, 2004 4:42 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Malaysia has descended further in the press freedom index. It is currently ranked 122 out of 167 countries, according to a recent survey.
The country slides down the ladder once again as a survey claims that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi continues the policy of being firm towards the press.
Malaysia has descended further in the press freedom index. It is currently ranked 122 out of 167 countries, according to a recent survey.
In its annual worldwide press freedom index released yesterday, the Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has continued his predecessor's 'policy of firmness towards the press'.
Last year, Malaysia was positioned at 104 out of 166 countries surveyed. In 2002, it clinched the 110th spot out of 139.
RSF (which in English means 'Reporters Without Borders') said although there were few direct press freedom violations in Malaysia this year, the poor ranking was due to the "high level of self-censorship and control of editorial policies by media owners loyal to the government".
"A journalist with the English language daily The Star said 'we don't lie. But we don't say all the truth'," stated the report.
Opposition media
On the bright side, RSF pointed out that new media showed signs of being dynamic and the number of newspapers and magazines have increased despite the repressive Printing Presses and Publications Act.
"But the opposition press had to cope with harassment by interior (home) ministry agents who regularly put pressure on printers, distributors and advertisers," it added.
RSF compiled the index by asking its partner organisations (14 freedom of expression organisations in five continents), 130 correspondents worldwide, as well as journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activist, to answer 52 questions to indicate the state of press freedom in their respective countries.
The report also quoted malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan as saying at a United Nations press forum in Kuala Lumpur last year that 20 laws must be repealed here as they tend to control the media.
He added that these laws should be replaced with a freedom of information law instead.
"But officials present (at the forum) said this would 'light an uncontrollable fire'," recounted the RSF report.
RSF also recorded the strong reaction by Deputy Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin to Malaysia being assigned the 110th place in The 2002 index.
He labelled RSF as a 'political tool' used by certain countries to discredit Malaysia.
Worldwide situation
Meanwhile, the latest report also revealed that press freedom was under threat predominantly in East Asia and the Middle East.
North Korea sunk to the very bottom of the index. Above it were Burma (165), China (162), Vietnam (161), Laos (153), Saudi Arabia (159), Iran (158), Syria (155) and Iraq (148).
"In these countries, an independent media either does not exists or journalists are persecuted and censored on a daily basis," said the report, adding that freedom of information and the safety of journalists are not guaranteed as well.
According to RSF, war-torn Iraq was the most deadly place for journalists in recent years, with 44 killed there since March last year.
The report also stated that press freedom flourished in Northern European countries such as Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Norway.
In the top 20 ranking, only New Zealand (9), Trinidad and Tobago (11) and Canada (18), were non-European nations.
In its annual worldwide press freedom index released yesterday, the Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has continued his predecessor's 'policy of firmness towards the press'.
Last year, Malaysia was positioned at 104 out of 166 countries surveyed. In 2002, it clinched the 110th spot out of 139.
RSF (which in English means 'Reporters Without Borders') said although there were few direct press freedom violations in Malaysia this year, the poor ranking was due to the "high level of self-censorship and control of editorial policies by media owners loyal to the government".
"A journalist with the English language daily The Star said 'we don't lie. But we don't say all the truth'," stated the report.
Opposition media
On the bright side, RSF pointed out that new media showed signs of being dynamic and the number of newspapers and magazines have increased despite the repressive Printing Presses and Publications Act. "But the opposition press had to cope with harassment by interior (home) ministry agents who regularly put pressure on printers, distributors and advertisers," it added.
RSF compiled the index by asking its partner organisations (14 freedom of expression organisations in five continents), 130 correspondents worldwide, as well as journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activist, to answer 52 questions to indicate the state of press freedom in their respective countries.
The report also quoted malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan as saying at a United Nations press forum in Kuala Lumpur last year that 20 laws must be repealed here as they tend to control the media.
He added that these laws should be replaced with a freedom of information law instead.
"But officials present (at the forum) said this would 'light an uncontrollable fire'," recounted the RSF report.
RSF also recorded the strong reaction by Deputy Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin to Malaysia being assigned the 110th place in The 2002 index.
He labelled RSF as a 'political tool' used by certain countries to discredit Malaysia.
Worldwide situation
Meanwhile, the latest report also revealed that press freedom was under threat predominantly in East Asia and the Middle East.
North Korea sunk to the very bottom of the index. Above it were Burma (165), China (162), Vietnam (161), Laos (153), Saudi Arabia (159), Iran (158), Syria (155) and Iraq (148).
"In these countries, an independent media either does not exists or journalists are persecuted and censored on a daily basis," said the report, adding that freedom of information and the safety of journalists are not guaranteed as well.
According to RSF, war-torn Iraq was the most deadly place for journalists in recent years, with 44 killed there since March last year.
The report also stated that press freedom flourished in Northern European countries such as Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Norway.
In the top 20 ranking, only New Zealand (9), Trinidad and Tobago (11) and Canada (18), were non-European nations.
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