An opposition MP has panned the Prime Minister’s Office for claiming that the media is "freer than it has ever been" - but only for online platforms.

 

PKR parlimentarian N Surendran said the statement was “ridiculous”, given the tight leash the government holds on radio, TV, and the print media.

While newspapers operate under the threat of having their licences revoked, the opposition and civil society are shut out from TV and radio, Surendran said.

 

The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2014 World Press Freedom Index released yesterday drew the same conclusion when it dropped Malaysia to its record low ranking , at 147 out of 180 countries surveyed. Malaysia even ranked below Myanmar.

 

The response to this from Prime Minister's Office response was a statement that trumpeted Malaysia's liberal online press as an example of how free the media was.

 

"This is an incredible, laughable and completely false claim by the PM's Office," Surendran, who is also PKR vice-president, said in a statement.

 

"That Putrajaya is keeping a tight grip on the media is proven by recent events, including the suspension of The Heat , rejection of a newspaper permit for FZ Daily and the banning of Anwar Ibrahim's BFM radio interview."

 

Surendran ( left ) noted that the refusal to abolish the Printing Press and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA) meant that the print media are kept at the mercy of Home Ministry.

 

"Putrajaya frequently summons newspaper editors to rebuke and warn them about news pieces considered critical of the government," he said.

 

More than that, the government completely bars opposition access to television and radio, including public-owned media such as RTM, which it uses for BN political propaganda, Surendran said.

 

"Instead of issuing ridiculous statements that the media is free, Putrajaya must immediately repeal the PPPA and allow free access to TV and radio to the opposition and civil society," he added.