DATUK Wan Saiful Wan Jan slammed Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil today over Malaysia’s significant drop in press freedom rankings.
Malaysia dropped 34 places to 107th spot in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2024’s World Press Freedom Index.
The Bersatu supreme council member said the country's regression from the 73rd spot last year was evidence of the government's use of "strong-arm tactics" to curb press freedom.
"Fahmi has embarrassed the country because Malaysia's position at 107 is only slightly better than that of Burundi (108), Mongolia (109), and Zimbabwe (116).
"In fact, Malaysia's position this year is worse than Israel’s (101)," Wan Saiful wrote on Facebook.
The Perikatan Nasional MP said Fahmi must not be allowed to distort words to explain the fall.
"It is clear that the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional government's promise of guaranteeing media freedom is false. mMdia freedom today is in a critical state.
"Fahmi must take responsibility and admit that he has undermined media freedom in Malaysia."
This is the first time in three years Malaysia did not top the list for Southeast Asia. Thailand took the honour at 87th place.
“The threat of defamation proceedings keeps journalists on a short leash in Mongolia (109th), while news sites critical of the government are often blocked in Malaysia (107th),” said the report accompanying the index.
Wan Saiful said Fahmi's work in 2023 had worsened Malaysia's position and damaged the country's global standing.
"Throughout 2023, we saw Fahmi giving various reasons why media sites criticising the government, including MalaysiaNow, Malaysia Today, TV Pertiwi, and UtusanTV, were blocked. The government also revoked Harakah's official media pass.
"Media practitioners and social media activists are pressured and intimidated with legal action to the point of hindering freedom of expression in our country," he said.
He said PH had guaranteed more media freedom but once in power, it did the opposite. – May 4, 2024.
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