PETALING JAYA: Talks will be expedited between the government and journalists to improve working conditions and solve issues faced by the media, says Fahmi Fadzil.
This comes as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration wants to build on the success of Malaysia attaining its best-ever ranking in the World Press Freedom Index recently, said the Communications and Digital Minister.
Putrajaya is also looking into new laws and policies to further strengthen media freedom, including establishing the long-gestating media council, Fahmi added.
However, he said the government has not decided if it will review the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA) - a key law which journalists and activists say stifles media freedom in the country.
Last month, journalist groups criticised Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for saying that laws such as the PPPA and the Sedition Act were still needed to preserve public peace and security.
"The latest ranking is beyond our expectations and is very positive for the country and the government. The ranking is the best in the past five to six years," Fahmi told a press conference at his ministry here on Wednesday (April 3).
Malaysia jumped 40 places to 73rd out of 180 countries in the 2023 Index, which was announced by civil society group Reporters Without Borders (RWB). Its position is the highest among Asean countries, ahead of Thailand (106) and Indonesia (108) and Singapore (129).
"I want to stress the government's and Prime Minister's commitment to protect press freedom and the working environment for journalists," Fahmi said.
Talks between the government, media companies, journalist groups and organisations will be increased ahead of this year's National Journalists Day (Hawana) scheduled for May 27 to 29 in Ipoh, Perak.
Issues expected to be discussed include the economics of the new media landscape, cooperation between the government and the media as well as journalistic ethics, he said.
"The rise in rankings is something positive but we cannot rest on our laurels and must continue improving our position," he said.
