A lot to reflect on, says Fahmi after big drop in press freedom index
Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil says he and his team will digest the World Press Freedom Index 2024 report and draft ‘more cogent initiatives in moving forward’. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said there was a lot to reflect on after Malaysia’s standing in the World Press Freedom Index declined by 34 places to 107th compared to 73rd last year.
In a post on X, Fahmi said there was a need to balance between ensuring press freedom and countering slander as well as curbing the spread of fake news.
“God willing, my team and I will digest the report and draft more cogent initiatives in moving forward,” he said.
Earlier today, the World Press Freedom Index 2024 report released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) showed that Malaysia’s score now stands at 52.07 points.
Last year, Malaysia recorded a score of 62.83 points as it jumped 40 places to 73rd compared to 2022 when it was placed at 113th with 51.55 points.
A ranking of 107th means Malaysia has fallen behind Thailand (87th) although it is still second overall among Asean countries, ahead of Indonesia (111th), Brunei (117th), Singapore (126th), the Philippines (134th), Cambodia (151st), Laos (153rd), Myanmar (171st) and Vietnam (174th).
Last month, Amnesty International claimed that freedom of expression in Malaysia had declined after more than a year of the unity government’s administration.
Following the release of the report, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) urged the government to amend or repeal laws that restrict media freedom.
CIJ director Wathshlah G Naidu lamented that the government has backtracked on its promises and made little progress on repealing and amending restrictive laws.