A decline in Malaysia’s position on the World Press Freedom (WPF) Index 2026 has raised concerns among civil society and government critics who cite worsening conditions for local media and journalists.

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia noted that the rankings this year were released amid an unprecedented number of killings of journalists in Gaza, Palestine, Sudan, and the Philippines, and a significant trust deficit in mainstream media.

“Thus, Malaysia’s decline is not just a symbolic decline as it reflects...