MEDIA AND PRESS FREEDOMS IN MALAYSIA

MEDIA IN MALAYSIA

Most Malaysian newspapers and electronic media outlets are controlled by the government or political parties in the ruling coalition. They also operate with a government license, which must be renewed annually. Internet news sites do not have these restrictions. Traditionally, Malaysia's mainstream media have been pro-government but some newspapers have become bolder in recent years and have openly discussed issues such as race relations that were previously taboo.

Mass media are often discussed in terms of the substantial legal restrictions on acceptable content rather than the increased availability of media. The 1998 Communications and Multimedia Act liberalized acceptable broadcast content and made broadcasters responsible for regulating their own content within legal parameters. The Ministry of Energy, Water, and Communications and the Communications and Multimedia Commission regulate electronic and print media and may revoke the license of any company that is deemed to have violated acceptable media content. The constitution protects freedom of the press, but critics contend that legal parameters on content are highly restrictive and politically motivated. [Source: Library of Congress, 2006]

Government-owned Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), the predominant broadcaster, operates nine national radio services and 16 regional radio services. The government also owns Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia, a religious radio broadcaster. The Voice of Malaysia (VOM) is the government’s international radio service. Malaysia also has seven commercial radio broadcasters and two university radio stations. In 2001 there were 35 AM radio stations, 391 FM radio stations, and 15 shortwave radio stations. RTM has two national television services, and three commercial broadcasters serve only the peninsula. The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) is the official news agency and has exclusive rights to receive and distribute news in Malaysia. In 2000, Malaysia had 31 daily newspapers with a total average circulation of 2.2 million.

According to Human Rights Watch: With nearly all mainstream newspapers and television and radio stations controlled by media companies close to political parties in the government coalition, social media usage has expanded rapidly, joining popular online news portals as alternative sources for news and information. The internet remains uncensored but the Home Ministry in 2011 again refused the Malaysiakini website’s application to publish a daily print version, saying that a publishing permit is “a privilege,” not a right. Malaysiakini has challenged the Home Ministry’s decision; at this writing the High Court was set to review the challenge on December 8, 2011. Online news portals critical of the government also came under repeated cyber-attacks by unknown assailants at key news junctures, such as the Sarawak elections in April and the Bersih rally in July. [Source: Human Rights Watch, World Report 2012: Malaysia]

Bernama, Malaysia’s national news agency, was established by Parliament in 1967 and began operations in 1968. It operates under a supervisory council and provides news services in both Malay and English. With offices nationwide and abroad, Bernama supplies content to newspapers, broadcasters, and digital platforms. The agency modernized its operations in 2000 with digital technology and later expanded into television broadcasting. It also maintains partnerships with regional and international news organizations.[Source: Lloyd Johnson, World Press Encyclopedia, Gale Group Inc., 2003]

English-Language Media in Malaysia

English is widely spoken throughout Malaysia and the country therefore has a rich English-language media, as well as good access to English-language websites and to satellite television channels. There are a number of daily and weekly newspapers for foreigners in Malaysia. Most major foreign English-language magazines are available in Kuala Lumpur, as well as English-language magazines published in Malaysia. [Source: Angloinfo.com]

The main English-language media in Malaysia consists of a mix of established newspapers and prominent online news portals, with The Star being the largest English-language daily in Malaysia by circulation. It is known for a broad audience. Top English outlets include Malaysiakini, Free Malaysia Today, New Straits Times, Malay Mail, and The Edge.

New Straits Times is one of the oldest newspapers in Malaysia, serving as a major English daily. The Sun is a popular free daily newspaper covering national and international news.. The Borneo Post is the largest English daily in East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak in Borneo). The Daily Express is a major newspaper covering Sabah.

Malaysiakini is a prominent independent online news portal recognized for diverse reporting. Free Malaysia Today is an influential independent bilingual (primary English) news site. The Malay Mail is a major digital-focused platform providing rapid, nationwide news. The Edge Malaysia is a leading source for business and financial news. The Malaysian Reserve focuses on business, finance, and corporate news.

Censorship and Freedom of the Press in Malaysia

Malaysia does not have a free and independent press, especially when compared to other countries in the region. In the 1980s, Mahathir muzzled the free press and promoted the notion of “developmental journalism”—the idea that the press should help him in his quest to develop the nation. Reporters printed verbatim what he said. Newspapers that dared to criticize him risked losing their operating licenses. Reporters Without Border ranked Malaysia at 105 out of 166 countries in terms of press freedom. At one point disillusionment with the state-sponsored media became so great the circulation of the main newspaper dropped from 200,000 to 130,000.

Malaysia's media operates under a publishing permit system, which allows the government to shut down outlets at will. Newspapers need an annual license to publish. This license can be taken away if the government so deems it. Editors of newspapers that have been overly critical of the government have been arrested and the newspapers themselves, in some cases, have been taken over by groups more friendly to the government. In 1996 it pledged not to censor online content as part of a campaign to promote its information technology sector and make Malaysia be a high-tech center. Despite occasional raids, bans and government criticism, the online media remain relatively free.

However, Leading members of the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (the National Front) have suggested making amendments to its media laws, such as to punish bloggers who publish materials that are deemed controversial and "anti-government". In 2008, Shawn Crispin, senior Southeast Asia representative of Committee to Protect Journalists, noted in a special report, "Malaysia's Risk-Takers," that the government had not lived up to its promise not to censor the Internet. Three years after Shawn's analysis, and eight years after the end of strongman Prime Minster Mahathir Mohammed's 22-year authoritarian rule, Malaysia has yet to emerge as a country with a truly free press.

According to Freedom House: The constitution guarantees freedom of expression under Article 10, but allows for a host of limitations to this right. The Sedition Act, the Internal Security Act (ISA), and harsh criminal defamation laws are used regularly to impose restrictions on the press and other critics of the government. Violations of these laws are punishable by several years in prison, in many cases without trial. Although the opposition-controlled states of Selangor and Penang passed freedom of information laws in April and November 2011, respectively, Malaysia has no federal freedom of information legislation, and officials remain reluctant to share controversial data with journalists for fear of being charged under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. [Source: Freedom House ==]

The Barisan Nasional (BN) political coalition ruled Malaysia from independence in 1957 until 2018, maintaining power by manipulating electoral districts, appealing to ethnic nationalism, and suppressing criticism through restrictive speech laws and politicized prosecutions of opposition leaders. The BN lost to an opposition alliance in the 2018 general elections, and political affairs have since been characterized by a more complex pattern of competition and cooperation among multiple coalitions, creating opportunities for reform and modest improvements to civil liberties

The Press Under Mahathir

When Mahathir Mohamad served as the Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003, Malaysia’s political culture became increasingly centralised and authoritarian, due to Mahathir's belief that the multiethnic Malaysia could only remain stable through controlled democracy.

Under Mahathir, Richard Lloyd Parry wrote in The Times: “Malaysia was a democracy, but a timid one in which the press agreed with almost everything the government said. Those who spoke out against the government were liable to find themselves locked up without trial under the British colonial era’s Internal Security Act. One of the low points for human rights came in 1998 when Anwar Ibrahim, his then deputy, was arrested on charges of sodomy and corruption — charges that many still regard as trumped up by allies of Dr Mahathir, who felt threatened by the younger man’s popularity. He appeared in court with his face bruised from a beating in police custody. The perpetrator, it later turned out, was Dr Mahathir’s own chief of police. [Source: Richard Lloyd Parry, The Times, October 30, 2006]

“In his 22 years as their prime minister, the prickly Dr Mahathir was not noted for his tolerance of criticism, constructive or otherwise. Newspapers toed the government line or soon found themselves in difficulty, and judges whose rulings were not to Dr Mahathir’s liking were unceremoniously dismissed. It was an open secret that his method of governing combined strong state intervention with complex patterns of political patronage, but curiosity about the lucrative business opportunities enjoyed by his sons and specially favoured associates was robustly discouraged. Anwar Ibrahim, the deputy he initially groomed to succeed him, spent years in prison on trumped-up charges for daring to say publicly that corruption had reached critical dimensions.

After nearly losing an election in 1987 and facing leadership challenges among his own party, Mahathir placed the independent judiciary under parliamentary control, threw critics in jail without a trial or even charges, and muzzled the free press. In 1987 the Mahathir government used the Internal Security Act to detain political and civil leaders and shut down four newspapers, claiming the measures were needed to prevent racial violence. The actions were widely criticized, including by former prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, and were accompanied by tighter controls on the media and new [Source: Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations, Thomson Gale, 2007; Wikipedia]]

Alan Sipress wrote in the Washington Post: Hishamuddin Rais, 51, a filmmaker and columnist, was released in 2003 after two years in prison under Malaysia's draconian internal security act, often used to silence political opponents and human rights advocates. Rais was jailed following his role in organizing street protests....Recalling the weeks spent in solitary confinement — the spartan underground cell, the handcuffs and blindfold, and the long hours of abusive interrogation — Rais suddenly looks away, his brow deeply furrowed. He was not physically tortured, he said. But he conceded: "I broke down. I cried." Rais, once a student activist, said he has seen the spirit of Malaysia's universities crushed during Mahathir's rule. "The campuses have become very docile, kind of barren areas where contending ideas are no longer debated," he said. "This is a very dangerous situation. They are a breeding ground for one-track thinking like Muslim fundamentalism." [Source: Alan Sipress, Washington Post, October 27, 2003]

Details About Political Sex Scandals Rock Modest Malaysia

Thomas Fuller wrote in New York Times, “Government censors in this majority Muslim nation uphold an ethos of modesty by snipping sex scenes from films and ordering entertainers to avoid outfits that reveal too much on Malaysian stages — bare belly buttons and figure-hugging outfits are off limits. But these days Malaysians looking to avoid R-rated content might be advised to read past news reports about their own leaders. Top politicians are embroiled in two scandals involving accusations of sodomy and the gruesome murder of a Mongolian mistress [Altantuya Shaariibuu]. Reports on the finer points of a rectal examination and revelations about the sexual preferences of the dead mistress make other sex scandals that once shocked people here — such as Monica Lewinsky and her blue dress — seem almost Victorian. [Source: Thomas Fuller, New York Times, August 2, 2008]

This is not the first time that sex and politics have publicly collided in Malaysia. The trial of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy prime minister, for sodomy in the 1990s featured, among other highlights, a blood-stained mattress being hauled into the courtroom. This time, wider use of the Internet has helped disseminate documents, facts and rumours that would otherwise have been filtered out of mainstream news media tightly controlled by the government.

The two scandals encompass much more than just sex. They are part of a broader clash between two men vying for power: Anwar is facing new allegations of sodomy at a time when he is vowing to unseat the governing party, while the other scandal involves Anwar's principal political rival, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the deputy prime minister and anointed heir to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. What is worrying for many Malaysians is that the gloves appear to have come off in the high-stakes fight between Anwar and Najib.

Although a number of gruesome facts in the Mongolian case have emerged in court over the past year — Altantuya, for example, was shot and her body obliterated with explosives in the jungle outside Kuala Lumpur — Raja Petra asserts that only a fraction of what happened is being admitted into court. "A good word is disgust — whether it's sodomy or blowing up the Mongolian lady," said the Reverend Wong Kim Kong, executive adviser of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, an umbrella organisation of Protestant churches. A narrow majority of Malaysians are Muslim but the country has sizeable Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh minorities. Wong said the constant barrage of allegations made by bloggers, paired with the government's steady denials, have left Malaysians pining for clarity. "People just cannot trust the word of any of these people," Wong said. "They cannot distinguish who is telling the truth."

Malaysia’s Anti-Fake News Act 2018

Malaysia’s Anti-Fake News Act 2018 was widely criticized when it was enacted in April 2018. Commentators and rights groups considered that the Act was vague and contained an overly broad definition of fake news, and the then-government was accused of seeking to stifle criticism of the administration. Following elections in May 2018, the new government sought to repeal the Act, but the bill was defeated in the upper house of the Parliament in September 2018. It is unclear at this stage whether the government will again seek its repeal or introduce amendments. The government also undertook to review and possibly repeal several other laws that are considered oppressive and restrictive of free speech, including those that have been used to target what could be termed “fake news.” However, despite earlier announcing an enforcement moratorium, it has recently indicated a willingness to apply some of these laws in certain situations. [Source: Kelly Buchanan, Foreign Law Specialist, Library of Congress Law Library, Legal Legal Reports, April 2019]

A government agency operates a fact-checking portal and app, where people can search for and submit information being circulated online in order to check its accuracy. Agencies also use social media to correct false information related to government activities. In addition, legal information is available through government web portals, including statute law, regulations, bills and other parliamentary information, and court decisions. |*|

The Anti-Fake News Act 2018 was passed by the Malaysian Parliament in April 2018, a few weeks before national elections were to be held. The legislation was the subject of widespread criticism by human rights organizations and there were accusations that it was passed to curtail speech that was critical of the government, including reporting on corruption investigations that implicated the then-Prime Minister. |*|

Crackdowns on Malay Editors and Foreign Journalists

According to Human Rights Watch: In 2012, Prime Minister Najib promised to amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act but only to end the mandatory annual licensing requirement. The minister of home affairs would retain broad authority, without judicial review, to refuse permission to publish anything he determines “likely to be prejudicial to public order, morality, security … or national interest.” On July 14 the High Court in Kuala Lumpur upheld the ban on seven books by Malaysiakini cartoonist Zunar and threatened revocation of printers’ licenses if they produced his books. In September the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission ordered broadcasters not to show a non-partisan voter education public service announcement created by well-known film producer and musician Peter Teo. [Source: Human Rights Watch, World Report 2012: Malaysia]

In November 2003, the editor-in-chief of Malaysia’s New Straits Times group said he has lost his job after publishing comments that upset the Saudi royal family. Reuters reported: “The New Straits Times, the country’s oldest newspaper group and one of the biggest, is linked to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s said the company was issuing a statement later today to say that “his term has ended.” He said the move was linked to his November 12 article about the Saudis. Media executives said the story, which criticised the kingdom’s royal family, had sparked a strong but previously unpublicised protest from the Saudi government. NST executives said the decision came after the Prime Minister, who is currently acting party president, met senior UMNO leaders yesterday. They said there were several grounds for the sacking, the main one being the Saudi protest, which has soured otherwise warm ties and embarrassed Malaysia’s new administration. [Source: Reuters, November 21, 2003]

In 1994, Mahathir placed sanction on British companies after British newspapers ran stories about bribery among high officials. The Economist was criticized by the Malaysian government for running an article critical of the government’s policies against foreign workers.

Murray Hilbert, a correspondent with the Far Eastern Economic Review, was imprisoned for four weeks for contempt of court for an article he wrote in 1997 that criticized way the Malaysian justice system handled the case of 17-year-old boy dropped from his school debating team that also happened to be the son of a judge.

Arrests and Harassment Over Press and Speech Issues in Malaysia

Malaysian authorities have repeatedly taken action against individuals and media organizations over speech, reporting, and criticism of the government, drawing concern from rights groups about press freedom and civil liberties. One widely cited case involved a Bangladeshi migrant worker, Mohammad Rayhan Kabir, who appeared in a documentary by Al Jazeera examining the treatment of undocumented migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the program, Kabir alleged that foreign workers were being discriminated against through arrests and detention. The documentary, broadcast in July 2020, prompted official complaints that it was “inaccurate, misleading and unfair,” triggering a police investigation. [Source: BBC, July 26, 2020; William Gallo, VOA News, April 2, 2015; Washington Post, January 1, 2016]

Kabir, 25 at the time, was later arrested after an arrest warrant was issued and his work permit revoked. Authorities announced that he would be deported and permanently barred from returning to Malaysia, though they did not clearly state what offense he had committed. Before his arrest, Kabir maintained that he had simply spoken out about the conditions faced by migrant workers, saying he had committed no crime. His detention came amid a broader crackdown in which hundreds of undocumented migrants—including children and Rohingya refugees—were detained during pandemic lockdown measures. Officials defended the arrests as necessary to contain the virus, while activists described them as harsh and inhumane.

The fallout from the documentary extended beyond Kabir himself. Malaysian police also opened investigations into journalists and staff linked to Al Jazeera, citing potential violations of laws such as sedition, defamation, and communications regulations. The broadcaster reported that its journalists and interviewees were subjected to sustained online harassment, including threats and abuse. International human rights organizations warned that the case sent a chilling message to migrant communities and media workers alike, suggesting that speaking publicly about sensitive issues could lead to retaliation.

Another prominent example of legal pressure on expression involves political cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, widely known as Zunar. A long-time critic of Malaysia’s political leadership, Zunar faced multiple charges under the country’s Sedition Act over social media posts criticizing the judiciary. The charges were linked to comments he made following the conviction of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Zunar argued that the case against him was politically motivated and part of a broader effort to silence dissent.

Zunar’s work—often sharply satirical and focused on allegations of corruption and abuse of power—has led to repeated confrontations with authorities. His books have been banned or confiscated, his office raided, and associates questioned or arrested. At one point, he faced up to nine sedition charges, which together could have resulted in a lengthy prison sentence. Despite this, he publicly stated that he would continue producing cartoons, framing his work as a form of resistance against censorship and political pressure.

The use of the Sedition Act, a law dating back to the colonial era, has been widely criticized for its broad and vague definitions, which allow authorities to criminalize a wide range of speech. Rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders have argued that the law has been increasingly deployed to target journalists, activists, and opposition figures. In several instances, journalists from independent or opposition-leaning outlets have been questioned, arrested, or investigated over their reporting, reinforcing concerns about shrinking space for critical media voices.

Radio in Malaysia

One study in the early 2000s found that in Malaysia more people listen to the radio than watch television or read newspapers.

State-owned radio broadcaster operates multiple national networks as well as regional and local stations; many private commercial radio broadcasters and some subscription satellite radio services are available; about 55 radio stations overall (2012) [Source: CIA World Factbook]

Malaysia has an Islamic radio station, IKIM-FM. Launched in the early 2000s and funded by the government, its features brief lectures, short prayers and short passages from the Koran but mostly broadcasts punchy, upbeat Malay-language ballads like “Thank You Allah” and “The Highest Praise” but no rock music or hip hop. On the weekends there are chat shows on international issues, stories from the Prophets life and re-enactments of sessions from the local Islamic court.

Newspapers in Malaysia

Malaysia’s major daily newspapers remain influential, though the environment has shifted significantly with the rise of digital media. The English-language New Straits Times is one of the country’s oldest papers and is part of the Media Prima group, which has close links to the long-dominant ruling party United Malays National Organisation. Another major English daily, The Star, remains among the most widely read, though like many print outlets its circulation has declined from earlier peaks as readership moves online. The Malay-language Utusan Malaysia continues to be an influential voice among the Malay-majority population, despite financial challenges and a restructuring in recent years.

In recent decades, mainly due to competition from Internet sources, the print sector has contracted. Malaysia once had over 30 daily newspapers with circulation in the millions but print readership has steadily declined since the late 2000s. Many publications have reduced print runs, shifted resources to online platforms, or adopted hybrid models combining print and digital subscriptions.

Chinese-language media remains a strong segment of Malaysia’s press, with publications circulating both in Peninsular and East Malaysia. The most prominent is Sin Chew Daily, which continues to be the country’s top-selling Chinese newspaper and a major opinion-shaper within the Chinese Malaysian community. Despite overall industry decline, Chinese-language papers have generally retained relatively strong readership, supported by loyal audiences and continued demand for vernacular-language reporting. [Source: Joceline Tan, The Star, September 23, 2007]

Malaysian Newspapers Begin Facing Challenges from Online Media in the Late 2000s

In August 2009, Beh Lih Yi of AFP wrote: “Malaysia's traditional newspapers are facing a serious challenge from online news portals, which are winning a reputation for being fast and more credible than the government-friendly press. The number of Internet newspapers has mushroomed from one to eight over the past two years, with new titles appearing in Chinese, Malay and English to cater to the multicultural population. "I don't really trust the newspapers as they are controlled by the government," says engineer Ryan Kong, 30, as he clicks on the website of pioneer portal Malaysiakini to get his daily dose. "There are the cost and convenience factors, and I can get today's news today rather than wait until tomorrow for the newspaper," he said. [Source: Beh Lih Yi, AFP, August 1, 2009 ***]

“Malaysiakini began operating a decade ago, but its competitors now include the popular Malaysian Insider and the latest entrant, the Malaysian Mirror, which was launched last month. Unlike other countries where the most popular portals churn out celebrity gossip and paparazzi shots, Malaysia's top sites focus on politics, corruption allegations and serious social issues including race relations. ***

“Editors expect a challenging time ahead for mainstream newspapers and television stations which are mostly government-linked, and often viewed with suspicion by the tech-savvy younger crowd. "There is a credibility crisis with regards to what is written in mainstream media — the level of believability among the people seems to be less," said Bernama national news agency editorial adviser Azman Ujang. ***

“The rise of online newspapers began with political turmoil in 1998 that saw Anwar Ibrahim sacked as deputy prime minister and jailed on sex and corruption charges widely seen as politically motivated. Malaysians flocked to the Internet for coverage of his trial, and major political events since then have also triggered spikes in viewership. In 2008 national elections that saw the opposition — now led by Anwar — make stunning gains, the rise of news websites and blogs was credited as a major factor behind its success. ***

"The Internet has been lauded as the medium that actually could change the general election results. The next election, in three or four years time, will be an Internet election," said Malaysiakini chief editor Steven Gan. "Eventually you will see the Internet as the main medium for the dissemination of news and for other things here, and the traditional media will play a secondary role." ***

Audit Bureau of Circulations Malaysia said that in the year ending June 2008, average daily newspaper circulation stood at 2.5 million copies, down from 2.54 million copies in the previous year. Online media, meanwhile, have enjoyed a steady rise in readership, with Malaysiakini saying it attracted 2.0 million unique visitors a month while Malaysian Insider says it drew some 800,000. Despite their success, online news outlets mostly operate on a modest scale, with often just a handful of journalists working from cramped offices. Few have yet managed to become profitable. David Yeoh ,managing editor The Star, is optimistic however that online media will not replace newsprint in the near future. "The generation that is comfortable with the newspaper as a product is still around. It will be at least one generation — at least 30 years — before newspapers can become redundant here," he said.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 5: East/Southeast Asia:” edited by Paul Hockings; 1993; New York Times; Washington Post; Los Angeles Times; Smithsonian magazine; Encyclopedia.com; National Geographic; Live Science; Malaysia Tourism websites; Malaysia government websites; UNESCO; Metropolitan Museum of Art; Natural History magazine; Times of London; Library of Congress; The Conversation; The New Yorker; Time; BBC; CNN; Reuters; Associated Press; AFP; Lonely Planet Guides; Google AI; Wikipedia; The Guardian and various websites; books and other publications.

Last updated May 2026