The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Incident

Malaysia pressures domestic media and monitors foreign correspondents after arresting former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim

MalaysiaRSF 2026 rank: 95th of 180

Engraving of an empty press briefing room with a lectern and rows of chairs

After Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's government arrested former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in September 1998, party-linked newspapers pressured staff to follow the official line, police visited journalists who interviewed his wife, and authorities said they would monitor internet traffic about the case.12345

What happened

On September 20, 1998, Malaysian police arrested former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, days after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad dismissed him amid a political dispute; Anwar was later convicted on corruption and sodomy charges he said were fabricated to end his political career. Newspapers partly owned by the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), including Utusan Malaysia, pressured editors and journalists to follow the party line on the case or face dismissal, Human Rights Watch reported. Police visited foreign correspondents in Singapore who had interviewed Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah, as part of a sedition investigation into her, and authorities barred her from addressing public meetings. The government also announced it would monitor internet traffic discussing the arrest. Circulation of the opposition paper Harakah surged roughly fourfold as readers sought coverage outside the mainstream press; its editor, Zulkifli Sulong, was later charged with sedition and said, "The government is trying to silence us."12345

What reason was given

Stated justification

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said restrictions on coverage of the case were necessary "to preserve national harmony" and pointed to what he called fabrications by foreign news outlets, while saying in a separate speech, "A government which controls the media is a government with no morals."4

What changed for reporting

Party-linked newspapers pressured journalists to follow the government's account or risk dismissal, police investigated reporters over interviews with Anwar's wife, and the opposition paper Harakah, whose circulation surged, later saw its editor charged with sedition.35

Timeline

1998

20 September 1998
Malaysia pressures domestic media and monitors foreign correspondents after arresting former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim

Who acted

NameRole in this incidentOffice at the time
Anwar IbrahimotherFormer Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
Mahathir MohamadorderedPrime Minister of Malaysia
Zulkifli SulongotherEditor, Harakah

Outlets and journalists

NameKindRelation
Harakahoutletaffected

Sources

  1. Human Rights Watch On Malaysia: It's Not Just The TrialHuman Rights Watch, 1998-11-02, reporting. Source record
  2. Attacks on the Press 2000: Malaysia archived copyCommittee to Protect Journalists, 2001-03-01, reporting. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. UMNO-linked newspapers pressured editors and journalists to follow the party line or face dismissal.Newspapers in which the ruling party, UMNO, is a major shareholder, such as Utusan Malaysia, have pressured editors and journalists to follow the party line on Anwar or face dismissal.Human Rights Watch On Malaysia: It's Not Just The Trial, Human Rights Watch, 1998-11-02.Claim 250, checked 2026-09-22.
  2. Foreign journalists who interviewed Anwar's wife were visited by Malaysian police as part of a sedition investigation.International journalists who interviewed her were visited in Singapore by Malaysian police as part of an investigation of Wan Azizah on possible sedition charges.Human Rights Watch On Malaysia: It's Not Just The Trial, Human Rights Watch, 1998-11-02.Claim 251, checked 2026-09-22.
  3. Authorities announced surveillance of internet communications relating to the arrest.Malaysian authorities have also announced surveillance of all Internet communications regarding the arrest of Anwar.Human Rights Watch On Malaysia: It's Not Just The Trial, Human Rights Watch, 1998-11-02.Claim 252, checked 2026-09-22.
  4. Mahathir said a government that controls the media is a government with no morals.A government which controls the media is a government with no moralsAttacks on the Press 2000: Malaysia archived copy, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2001-03-01.Claim 253, checked 2026-09-22.
  5. The opposition paper's editor said the government was trying to silence its coverage.The government is trying to silence usAttacks on the Press 2000: Malaysia archived copy, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2001-03-01.Claim 254, checked 2026-09-22.