The National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ) has expressed hope the new Pakatan Harapan will keep its manifesto promise to remove laws that stifle press freedom.

“As we all know, Malaysia’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has been dropping from year to year during the previous government’s administration.

“Reviewing and repealing, if necessary, all relevant laws immediately will not only improve the media industry’s role and professionalism, but also boost its standard at global level,” said the NUJ executive council in a statement today.

“We urge the government to keep its commitment to repeal the Printing, Presses and Publishing Act 1984 (PPPA) and other relevant laws and regulations that curb media freedom and pose threats to journalists in our country, and to ensure that all efforts will be done in line with the democratic process.

The union, in their congratulatory message to the new government, reminded Harapan of their "10 Promises in 100 Days", saying the profession “looks forward to all of it being fulfilled”.

The body expressed readiness to engage and work together with the Harapan administration in all matters relating to the media industry and its practitioners.

“We welcome any effort by the government to engage media owners, practitioners and various organisations representing journalists to discuss further on this issue,” it said.

Fresh off Harapan's electoral win, PKR lawmaker Nurul Izzah Anwar reaffirmed her commitment to press freedom in the country.

The Permatang Pauh MP said she would reintroduce her earlier initiative to set up a media council and work on abolishing the PPPA.

“In 2010, I prepared a bill to abolish the PPPA and to institute a media council.

“It has been my commitment to ensure that media is free and fair in this country,” Nurul Izzah told reporters on May 11.