Malaysia’s drop in press freedom ranking stems from enforcement against media over 3R issues and national security content, says Anwar.
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia’s decline in this year’s World Press Freedom Index was influenced by several international assessment indicators, including enforcement action taken against several media organisations.
However, he stressed that such action was not intended to curb press freedom or suppress political dissent, but was directed at content involving religion, race and the royal institution (3R), as well as matters that could threaten national security.
He said cases involving Sin Chew Daily over the publication of an inaccurate illustration of the Jalur Gemilang, and Sinar Harian over the publication of the Inspector-General of Police’s biography, had contributed to Malaysia’s lower ranking.
“The action against Sin Chew Daily, for example, was viewed by the international media community as a serious violation of press freedom. However, the matter involving the national flag was resolved appropriately. We take issues concerning the national flag very seriously, although other countries may not view them in the same way.
“When action is taken against established media organisations, it immediately affects the press freedom index,” he said during the Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Anwar was responding to a question from Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) on the factors behind Malaysia’s fall to 95th place in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index from 88th last year, and the government’s comprehensive measures to safeguard media freedom.
