Press freedom ranking affected by action on 3R issues, says Anwar

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia’s decline in this year's World Press Freedom Index was influenced by several international assessment indicators, including enforcement action taken against several media organisations. However, he stressed that such action was not intended to curb press freedom or suppress political dissent, but was directed at content involving religion, race and the royal institution (3R), as well as matters that could threaten national security. “The action against Sin Chew Daily, for example, was viewed by the international media community as a serious violation of press freedom. However, the matter involving the national flag was resolved appropriately. We take issues concerning the national flag very seriously, although other countries may not view them in the same way," he said,