Country
Malaysia
Government actions against journalists in Malaysia
RSF 2026 rank: 95th of 180. World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders (RSF); rank 1 is the freest.
The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.
Malaysia is in South-eastern Asia, Asia. The record holds 2 incidents in which the government of Malaysia, or an official, court or legislature there, limited journalists' ability to report.
Tactics used
- Funding and ownership pressure: 1 incident · ladder
- Licensing and closure of outlets: 1 incident · ladder
- Surveillance and subpoenas: 1 incident · ladder
Heads of government at the time
Incidents by year
1998
| Date | Incident | Tactic | Stage | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 September 1998 | Malaysia pressures domestic media and monitors foreign correspondents after arresting former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim | Surveillance and subpoenas | Pressure | Mahathir Mohamad | Unknown |
1987
| Date | Incident | Tactic | Stage | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Malaysia: Printing Presses and Publications Act amended to bar court review of publishing permits, 1987 | Licensing and closure of outlets | Silence | Mahathir Mohamad | Sustained |
Ladders: where each tactic has led · Timeline for Malaysia · Asia