Malaysia Has Never Scored This Low Before On The World Press Freedom Index
The 2014 World Press Freedom Index indicates Malaysia's steady decline in freedom of press and publication.
By Mei Mei Chu — 12 Feb 2014, 11:59 AM — Updated almost 11 years ago
Putrajaya: "The Media In Malaysia Is Freer Than It Has Ever Been"
Putrajaya has refuted Reporters Without Borders' 2014 World Press Freedom Index findings that press freedom in the country has deteriorated, saying "the media in Malaysia is freer than it has ever been".
yahoo.com"Online and in print, the media in Malaysia is freer than it has ever been," Putrajaya said in a statement today. “Malaysia enjoys an open and vibrant online media. Anyone who visits a Malaysian news website or political blog can see for themselves how free the online media is."
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The statement also said that laws on printing license have been relaxed under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. “The requirement to renew print licences annually has been removed, and the Home Minister’s authority to block, allow or revoke licences has been opened up to judicial review,” it added.
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Local business radio station, BFM has been barred from broadcasting an interview with PKR de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the Kajang by-election – the same day Putrajaya said the media is freer than it has ever been. This is not the first time that BFM has been barred from airing interviews.
themalaysianinsider.com
It has also been called up for some of its programming by its regulator, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) which vets all programming. It was understood the interview was to be aired today on the station's Evening Edition, which is a drive-time programme. However, it was made available on the station's website with a notice saying it was barred from broadcast.
themalaysianinsider.com
This is not the first time that BFM has been barred from airing interviews, but the podcast is made available on the station's website with a notice saying it was barred from broadcast.
Image via themalaysianinsider.comMalaysia Marked A Historic Low Ranking In The 2014 World Press Freedom Index Released On 11 February 2014
Malaysia’s press freedom index plunged to a historic low of 147 out of 180 countries in the 2014 World Press Freedom Index released yesterday.
Out Of 180 Countries, Malaysia Ranked At 147, A Sharp Decline Since 2012
In 2013, Malaysia was ranked 145 out of 179 countries, dropping 23 spots from the previous year. It was ranked at 122 in the 2011/2012 Press Freedom Index.
themalaysianinsider.com
ASEAN nations which outperformed Malaysia include Brunei 117, Thailand 130, Indonesia 132 and Cambodia 144 and Myanmar 145. Philippines is ranked 149, Singapore 150, Laos 171 and Vietnam 174.
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This year's index covers 180 countries, one more than the 179 countries covered in last year's index. The newcomer is Belize, which has been ranked in the enviable position of 29th.
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Lim Kit Siang Says The Result Is "A Shame And The Worst Setback To Najib's 'Best Democracy In The World Claim'"
This is the worst setback to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s “best democracy in the world” claim with Malaysia’s 2014 Press Freedom Index falling to the lowest point in nation’s history, even below that of Myanmar.
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Malaysia was in respectable ranking of 92nd position in 2006 but under Najib’s premiership, Malaysia is now locked into the worst position in the bottom quarter of 180 countries assessed.
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Malaysia’s World Press Freedom Index 2014 would have been more abysmal falling even behind Philippines and Singapore if the government’s latest press freedom repression had been taken into account, i.e. revocation of the publishing permit for FZ daily, hours just after the publisher The Edge Communications Sdn. Bhd. was granted leave to initiate proceedings against the Home Ministry for deferring its initial approval of the permit.
limkitsiang.com
Lim Kit Siang Says The Result Is "A Shame And The Worst Setback To Najib's 'Best Democracy In The World Claim'"
Image via s-msn.comThe Malaysian Government Was Recently Criticised For Suspending The Heat News Weekly, And For Revoking The Publishing Permit For FZ Daily
February 11: FZ daily, which has yet to hit newsstands, found its permit revoked just hours after the publisher, The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd was granted leave to initiate proceedings against the Home Ministry for deferring its initial approval of the permit.
2014 WORLD PRESS FREEDOM FULL RESULT: Finland, Netherlands And Norway Tops The Index, While Turkmenistan, North Korea And Eritrea Ranked The Lowest
The 2014 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index spotlights major declines in media freedom in such varied countries as the United States, Central African Republic and Guatemala and, on the other hand, marked improvements in Ecuador, Bolivia and South Africa.
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The same trio of Finland, Netherlands and Norway heads the index again, while Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea continue to be the biggest information black holes, again occupying the last three positions.
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The World Press Freedom Index Is Calculated Based On 7 Criteria
"The World Press Freedom Index is a reference tool that is based on seven criteria: the level of abuses, the extent of pluralism, media independence, the environment and self-censorship, the legislative framework, transparency and infrastructure," said Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire.
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"It makes governments face their responsibilities by providing civil society with an objective measure, and provides international bodies with a good governance indicator to guide their decisions."
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Reporters Without Borders head of research Lucie Morillon said: "This year, the ranking of some countries, including democracies, has been impacted by an overly broad and abusive interpretation of the concept of national security protection.
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