Unscrupulous media that abuse their privileges to "spread lies" is as equal a threat to press freedom as are restrictive laws, said Penang's chief minister.

"Press freedom is threatened as much by authoritarian regimes that close down newspapers and detain reporters, as by media practitioners who abuse their power by publishing lies and refusing to respect the principle of a right of reply.

"It is not easy to fight to abolish such draconian laws just as it is not easy to correct lies and uphold the right of reply, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said in his World Press Freedom Day message today.

Lim said apart from restrictive laws such as the Sedition Act, Printing Presses & Publication Act and the Official Secrets Act that are normally the focus of press freedom campaigns, propaganda is also an important strategy in the information war.

"(Apart from the laws) another stratagem is to demonise the opposition by publishing lies without fear of punishment or just simply refusing to give them the right of reply.

"Whilst defamation actions may be necessary to differentiate lies from facts, the perquisites of rule of law and an independent judiciary must exist to successfully punish those who trade in falsehoods and slander," he added.

'Solid democratic institutions needed'

He cautioned that while press freedom is a fundamental human right enshrined in Article 19 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it must also accompany a "functioning democracy".

"Many countries with press freedom enjoy not only basic human rights but also a functioning democracy and economic prosperity.

"It is no accident that the country that respects press freedom the most also happens to be amongst the wealthiest and its citizens live with human dignity," noted Lim.

The DAP secretary-general lamented that today's celebration was a "bleak" day for Malaysia as it has fared even worse than Myanmar in the 2014 world press freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Border (RSF).

"Malaysia’s ranking was even two spots below that of the military junta of Myanmar.

"In 2014, Malaysia fared worse than Brunei (117), Thailand (130), Indonesia (130), Cambodia (132) and Myanmar (145)," he said.