The government will soon draft a law to replace the much criticised Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA).

najib putrajaya 280212 "The proposed law will... do away with annually renewable publishing licence and will create a media council to implement self-regulation in the industry," said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

He said this when tabling the Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill 2012 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The government’s previous attempts to set up a media council had met with strong resistance from the industry, which saw the plan as another layer of control.

Najib also said the Sedition Act is up for review, and that a comprehensive study will be conducted “with all options open".

These moves, he said, are part and parcel of his “political transformation programme” under which repressive laws are to be amended or repealed.

However, the opposition has described this as mere window dressing to drum up popular support for the BN ahead of the next general election.