KUCHING: Global press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in 25 years, with Malaysia dropping seven places to 95th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index — a development seen as a call for reform rather than political blame.
In conjunction with World Press Freedom Day 2026, Majlis Media Malaysia (MMM) said the decline points out the urgent need to strengthen media independence, newsroom sustainability and public trust in journalism.
“Press freedom is not an abstract principle. It is the condition that allows the public to know, to question, to debate, and to hold power accountable,” the council said in a statement today (May 3).
It stressed that the issue comes at a critical moment both globally and domestically, noting that journalists continue to face growing risks, including killings in conflict zones such as Gaza, Lebanon and Ukraine.
Locally, MMM said media practitioners are operating in an increasingly challenging environment marked by economic pressures, legal threats, online harassment, safety risks and declining public trust.
It added that rapid changes driven by misinformation, artificial intelligence, platform disruption and falling revenues are reshaping how news is produced and consumed.
“These challenges require more than slogans. They require institutions, standards and practical mechanisms that can protect press freedom while strengthening public accountability,” it said.
MMM, established as an independent self-regulatory body, aims to uphold ethical journalism, promote professional standards and provide a fair avenue for complaints involving media content.
The council emphasised that disputes involving the media should be addressed through self-regulatory channels wherever possible, rather than through criminal investigations or punitive action, particularly when reporting is done in the public interest.
At the same time, it stressed that press freedom must be accompanied by professional responsibility, including accuracy, fairness, verification, independence and accountability.
MMM also acknowledged positive steps such as the government’s Media Innovation Fund, which supports media organisations in adapting to digital transformation, but called for such initiatives to be expanded with safeguards to ensure editorial independence.
MMM board member Prof Dr Zaharom Nain said Malaysia’s drop in the index warrants serious reflection.
“On the one hand, Malaysia now has the Malaysian Media Council through an Act of Parliament, promising genuine self-regulation of the media. Yet on the other hand, we continue to see troubling incidents such as assaults on journalists and intimidation by authorities. This reflects a wider problem of ‘cakap tak serupa bikin’,” he said.
Board member Datin Paduka Esther Ng, who chairs the Code of Conduct and Complaints Committee, described press freedom as a public right.
“The media is the mirror which reflects the creed and core of the people. The Fourth Estate has a vital role to represent society — and that mirror belongs to the people. It is our responsibility to protect it,” she said.
Meanwhile, board member and Sabah Journalists Association president Mariah Doksil highlighted the realities faced by journalists on the ground.
“Journalists work long hours under pressure and sometimes put themselves at risk to bring out the truth. Press freedom is not just about journalists — it is about the public’s right to know,” she said.
MMM said it is currently working to operationalise its complaints mechanism, strengthen its Code of Conduct and enhance engagement with media organisations, while supporting professional development in the industry.
In marking World Press Freedom Day, the council called for stronger protection for journalists, restraint in the use of criminal laws against media workers, improved newsroom standards, and better access to information.
It also urged sustained support for the economic sustainability of journalism and safeguards to ensure that public funding does not compromise editorial independence.
MMM further invited members of the media and public to attend the Media Solidarity Festival 2026 on May 10 at PARC Subang, jointly organised with Gerakan Media Merdeka, the Centre for Independent Journalism and the National Union of Journalists Malaysia.
“A free press is not only a media issue. It is a public right,” the statement added.
