COMMENT | Two weeks ago, there were many who rejoiced when Malaysia showed significant improvement in freedom of the press index - leaping 22 spots to 101st place in the 2020 World Press Freedom report by non-profit group Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

However, a few - sceptics - maintained their stoic silence while they debated how long the “feel-good feeling” would last, especially with signs of the “bad old days” became ubiquitous. D-Day could be anytime, they reckoned and would come without warning and without any hints of signs of its impending arrival.

They didn’t have to wait long – this morning (May 2), it happened.