New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to undertake reforms that allow for greater press freedom for the mainstream and fast emerging online news media.

Its executive director Joel Simon, in its letter to Najib, said while it welcomes the government's decision to lift the three-month ban on opposition organs Harakah and Suara Keadilan in March, it noted the continued repressive action taken in this month's mass arrest on dissent.

The arrests, Simon said, led to 80 opposition politicans and activists to be arrested, for opposing the government's attempt to seize control of the Perak legislative assembly.

newspaper coverage sudden balanced view coverage of opposition headline 120308 "We are troubled to learn that journalists and press freedom advocates were among those arrested and detained including academician and chairman of Writers Alliance for Media Independence, Wong Chin Huat."

"At least two journalists Law Tech Hao, the editor of Suara Keadilan and Malaysiakini political columnist, Josh Hong to be arrested on May 6 while covering a candle light vigil for Wong. Both of them were released without charge," he said.

Simon said the arrest of Hong is a disturbing trend of denying Internet freedom.

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He noted that outgoing prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's commitment to maintain an uncensored Internet but at the same time, the government cracked down hard on high-profile bloggers like Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who was detained under the Internal Security Act and is facing criminal defamation and sedition charges for his critical online writing.

"You have vowed in your public address to work towards establishing "One Malaysia", a call for reform in your April 3 inaugural address, and aims to put a "people first" policy. CPJ believes such meaningful reforms would entail comprehensive changes to the many laws and policies that have long undermine press freedom in Malaysia.

"We call on you to rescind the renewable licensing system for print publications, which governments typically employ to pressure editors and journalists to soften and self-censor their news coverage," he said.

Simon also calls for the government to abolish the ISA, and repeal the Sedition Act, Official Secrets Act, and criminal defamation laws-all of which give legal precedence to notions of national security over press freedom.

"We also advocate that you restore Malaysia's past commitment to a free and open Internet.

"CPJ strongly believes that your new government is uniquely placed to democratise Malaysia. Implementing new policies and amending old laws that promote, rather than restrict press freedom, would in our view represent genuine reform," Simon said.