Malaysia's standing in global press freedom ranking stepped up 21 spots, according to Reporters Without Borders'(RSF) 2006 World Press Freedom Index released on Tuesday.

Polling in at 92th position in this year's index compared to 113rd in 2005, Malaysia is only second to Timor-Leste in press freedom ranking in the South East Asian region.

For the first time, it is placed ahead compared to Singapore (146th), the Philippines (142nd), Thailand (122nd) and Indonesia (103rd).

The report did not mention Malaysia in its report but did comment on other South East Asian countries.

It stated Singapore slipped six places because of new legal action by the government against foreign media and the Philippines fell three places down with continuing murders of journalists and increased legal harassment.

Meanwhile, Vietnam moved up three places, though it continued to stifle freedom of expression online and Laos remained in the same position, with its media obeying the information ministry's orders.

Sharing first place this year with no recorded censorship, threats, intimidation or physical reprisals are Finland, Ireland, Iceland and the Netherlands.

Those countries displaced Denmark who fell to 19th over the Prophet Mohammed cartoons controversy.

The bottom three

The bottom three are North Korea, Turkmenistan and Eritrea - all labelled as 'the worst violators of press freedom' resulting from the repressive laws and rulers in those countries.

However, the report stated the Asian region still trail behind the rest of the world with seven Asian countries in the bottom 20 in the Index and none in the top 20.

The RSF World Press Freedom Index measures the state of press freedom in the world and reflects the degree of freedom journalists and news organisations enjoy in each country.

It also takes into account efforts made by the state to respect and ensure respect for this freedom.

The index was compiled by asking 14 freedom of expression organisations that are RSF partners worldwide, its network of 130 correspondents, as well as journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists, to answer 50 questions about press freedom in their countries.

The Index covers 168 nations and is based solely on events between Sept 1, 2005 and Sept 1, 2006.