PKR Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has criticised the government for being heavy-handed against the media but allowing "racist rhetoric" and "threats of violence" to go unchecked.

In a statement today, the Selangor legislative assembly deputy speaker said such disparity shows the "hollow" nature of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's "transformation" programme.

If anything, he said, the suspension and cancellation of permits for weekly The Heat and the yet-to-be published FZ Daily shows that the Najib administration is increasingly scared of its own shadows.

"Indeed, it is hard to interpret the recent spate of newspaper suspensions as suggesting anything other than stark proof that the Najib government is growing increasingly paranoid and intolerant of criticism.

"This is highly ironic when one considers how this same administration is allowing certain so-called NGOs to air racist rhetoric and make threats of violence unfettered.

"It also gives lie to the prime minister's promises of transformation. Malaysians can now judge how hollow these are, particularly the amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 which appears to have done little to protect the media from abuse of power and political caprice," he added.

Nik Nazmi was responding to the cancellation of the permit for the print version of news portal FZ.com .

The permit was cancelled without due justification soon after FZ 's owner The Edge Communications was allowed by the High Court to commence a judicial review over the lengthy delay of the permit.

This came just as the suspension of weekly The Heat 's publication permit was lifted after several weeks.

"A free and balanced media is necessary for any society to function and prosper. Malaysia can forget about becoming a developed nation without it.

"The government-if it is truly serious about reform and making lives better for Malaysians - must do away with the draconian provisions of the 1984 Act, ensure balanced coverage in the mainstream media and move to protect freedom of speech," he said.

Nik Nazmi's comments come as Malaysia slips two more notches on the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index to an all time low of 147. The ranking places Malaysia two slots behind Myanmar.

In response to the World Press Freedom Index ranking, the Prime Minister's Office said that Malaysian media has been "freer than it has ever been" under Najib.

It cited the relaxation of annual permit renewal requirements and the possibility of a judicial review if permits are not granted, delayed or cancelled.