# Claim 979

Government power over publishing licenses and other policies created "an atmosphere that inhibits independent or investigative journalism and results in extensive self-censorship."

Published 2026-09-26. Last reviewed 2026-09-26. 1 source.

- Statement: Government power over publishing licenses and other policies created "an atmosphere that inhibits independent or investigative journalism and results in extensive self-censorship."
- Field: effect_on_reporting
- Value: Licensing power discourages independent journalism
- About: [incident 1987-malaysia-printing-act-bars-court-review](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1987-malaysia-printing-act-bars-court-review)
- Source: 1997 Human Rights Report: Malaysia. https://1997-2001.state.gov/global/human_rights/1998_hrp_report/malaysia.html
- Publisher: U.S. Department of State
- Method: official statement
- Checked: 2026-09-26
- Confidence: medium
- Status: current
- Source date: 1998

## Quotation from the source

> Government power over license renewal and other policies create an atmosphere that inhibits independent or investigative journalism and results in extensive self-censorship.

Source page: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/979. The War On News, CC BY 4.0.