We'll do better, Fahmi says after Malaysia's decline in press freedom index

PETALING JAYA: Fahmi Fadzil has accepted this year's World Press Freedom Index which saw Malaysia drop 34 spots.

The Communications Minister said that he accepted the report with an "open heart" and would work to improve for the future.

"There is much to consider. Balancing media freedom against false information and defamation requires a lot of thought and effort.

"My team and I will digest this report and formulate more sustainable efforts in the future,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday (May 3).

ALSO READ: Malaysia falls 34 spots to 107th in press freedom index

Earlier on Friday, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) index showed Malaysia in the 107th spot, down 34 from last year.

Malaysia's latest ranking places it behind its neighbouring country (87th) but ahead of Indonesia (111th), Brunei (117th), Singapore (126th), and the Philippines (134th), among others.

The World Press Freedom Index looks at the level of media freedom in 180 countries.

Indeks Kebebasan Media: Saya terima laporan NGO Wartawan Tanpa Sempadan (RSF) ini dengan hati terbuka. Banyak yang perlu dimuhasabah, dalam mengimbangi usaha menjamin kebebasan media dan pada masa yang sama melawan fitnah serta sebaran maklumat palsu. Insya-Allah saya dan... pic.twitter.com/Z6pgw1UFSh — Fahmi Fadzil (@fahmi_fadzil) May 3, 2024