Anwar cites respecting rulers' position for press freedom index slide

PARLIAMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today attributed the country’s significant drop in this year’s Press Freedom Index (PFI) to the Council of Rulers’ wish not to be publicly criticised.

According to Anwar, while the government allows the people to speak freely, they also have to respect the Malay rulers’ position.

“Speaking about the PFI, we are also tied down by the 3R (race, religion, royalty) problem.

“While we permit the people to speak, the Council of Malay Rulers is very strict. We are also bound by the rulers’ wishes in that they do not want and do not allow any open criticism to be left without any action taken.

“If you want to talk about criticisms (against the administration), like those against me, there are plenty but there is no action taken.

“However, when there is a police report lodged, we will let the police handle it. Because I personally am not bothered by such things (being criticised in public),” he said during the Prime Minister’s Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat this morning.

Anwar was responding to a supplementary question by Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang), who raised the issue of the government’s poor ratings in terms of institutional reforms and media freedom.

Adding further, the Tambun MP said he accepted Awang’s criticism of the country’s decline in FPI and agreed that it needs to address the perception.

“But we have a certain limit, that is the only problem,” the prime minister said.

Earlier this year, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2024’s World Press Freedom rankings showed Malaysia’s position fell 34 places to 107th position compared to 73rd last year, with a score of 52.07 points.

It was also the first time in three years that Malaysia did not top the rankings for Asean countries with Thailand attaining 87th place.

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