Press Freedom Index Worse than Myanmar Shameful

SHAH ALAM, 12 Feb: Claims by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, that Malaysia has ‘the best democracy in the world’ has been threatened when the country’s ranking in the latest Press Freedom Index is the worst in 12 years.

DAP Advisor, Lim Kit Siang, said that the ranking which was lower than Myanmar is shameful to the country.

8.1

He said that Malaysia already plunged last year to a historic low of No. 145 ranking out of 179 countries in the 2013 World Press Freedom Index – the worst since the start of the annual index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in 2002.

“Can Malaysians expect an explanation from Najib after today’s Cabinet meeting why he had reneged on his promise to make Malaysia “the best democracy in the world” with the worst World Press Freedom Index in the past 12 years, falling even below Myanmar – which had up to now been regarded as the “bad boy” of democracy in ASEAN?” Kit Siang said in a press statement.

8.2

He said that in]the latest 2014 World Press Freedom Index just released, Malaysia fell further to 147 out of 180 countries, two places behind Myanmar which climbed from 151st ranking to 145th position this year.

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.


Pengarang :