The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has urged the government to reform or abolish laws which curtail press freedom and resume efforts to set up a media council.
In a statement in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day today, Suhakam advised the government to amend the Sedition Act 1948, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Section 505b Penal Code and Section 211 and 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Suhakam said such law reform was necessary to liberalise the media and publication licensing to ensure the freedom to report.
The commission also urged the government to support the establishment of the media council to improve journalism standards and increase public faith in the mass media.
The previous Pakatan Harapan administration had mooted a Malaysia Media Council Act to form a media council which would function as self-regulators for the media industry.
Although a pro-tem council has been established, it is uncertain if the present Perikatan Nasional administration would go on with it.
Suhakam noted that while Malaysia has shown improvements in Reporters Without Borders (RSF) press freedom rankings, more needs to be done.
"Whilst encouraging, more could be done to further enhance the role of press and media in the Malaysian scene," said Suhakam.
Malaysia has moved up 44 places in the 2020 and 2019 RSF press freedom rankings and now place 101 out of 180 countries monitored.
- Mkini
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