In February 2021, Malaysia’s highest court found Malaysiakini guilty of contempt of court for reader comments on its website that criticised the judiciary.
CIJ Press Statements and Media Releases
Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov won the Nobel Peace Prize on 8 Oct 2021. This comes at a time when press freedom is increasingly under threat. The Nobel Committee awarded them the prize for their efforts in safeguarding the freedom of expression, which is a precondition for lasting democracy and peace.
An anti-graft watchdog and a media advocacy group have highlighted how the Covid-19 pandemic has made freedom of information all the more important.
Freedom of expression activists has slammed the recent memo sent to broadcasters instructing them against showing undergarments during home shopping segments.
Civil society organisations who share a common interest in promoting, protecting, and defending the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly today released a monitoring report on the #LAWAN protest and events surrounding the 31 July 2021 protest in Kuala Lumpur including incidents of intimidation before and after the protest.
Tan Sri Annuar Musa has been sworn in today as the new Communications and Multimedia Minister under PM Ismail Sabri's cabinet. We explore what can be expected of the Communications Ministry.
Four people have been arrested over comments they made that allegedly insulted Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor on social media.
Last Saturday, the 31st of July, saw more than 1000 young Malaysians take to the streets to voice their frustration against the current Perikatan Nasional administration. Protestors demanded for the Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to resign, for parliament to be allowed to reconvene properly and for full moratoriums for all Malaysians during these trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This week, the Dewan Rakyat Speaker snapped at and muted the mics of three women MPs, amid their requests for time extensions to deliberate in Parliament.
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) co-director Ding Jo Ann said the ordinance to combat fake news in the country is a problem because the term fake news underlined under the law is “loose”.
Ding Jo-Ann from CIJ talks on Awani on the need for media to urge the government to get the right information.
CIJ put together new research on the disinformation risks for Malaysia's news sites and media market
After a particularly challenging year, CIJ wrapped up three information and media needs assessments and published the findings of our Youth, Sabah and Sarawak Information Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) projects at the end of May 2021.
Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Ding Jo Ann, Advisor, Centre for Independent Journalism on attempts to make the police force more accountable and to reduce incidents of abuse
Joint statement by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) and National Union of Journalists (NUJM) on the recent harassment by government authorities against the media.
Joint statement by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) and National Union of Journalists (NUJM) on the recent harassment by government authorities against the media.
Ding Jo-Ann, adviser for Centre for Independent Journalism outlines a few reforms the government can explore to improve press freedom.
The report highlights the Malaysian media landscape in 2020, as journalists and media organisations navigate the new normal.
Civil society organisations today staged a protest at Parliament against the Emergency Proclamation and the Emergency (Essential Powers) (No. 2) Ordinance 2021, demanding the federal government lift the suspension on Parliament.
Press statement by Centre For Independent Journalism (CIJ) on MBSA's decision to deny reporters from covering a public hearing on the council’s draft local plan.
Press statement by The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) on the memorandum by Malaysian civil society organisations and Myanmar refugees, asylum seekers in Malaysia on the escalating violence perpetrated by the military junta against non-violent, peaceful protesters throughout Myanmar.
Press statement by The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) on the frequent use of intimidation tactics by the government to silence dissenting voices.
Press statement by The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) on Perikatan Nasional (PN) government’s decision to criminalise “fake news” under a new emergency ordinance and calls on the State to stop using the emergency proclamation to stifle any criticism of the current administration.
The Civil Society Cluster on Freedom of Expression [and the endorsing organizations] is extremely concerned at the implications of the Malaysian Federal Court decision on 19 February 2021 holding Malaysiakini guilty of contempt of court in relation to third party comments on their news site.
The First Amendment of the United States Federal Constitution (above) is what makes “free speech” in the US so unique, even when compared to other countries in the West.
BFM spoke to FOE Cluster co-chairs Wathshlah Naidu and Nalini Elumalai in their 'What if Malaysia' series on what it would be like if there was freedom of speech here like in the United States of America.
A study done across six different English-speaking countries shows that women are consistently under-represented in journalism: both in the newsroom, and in the news coverage itself.
Media companies and journalists have been probed and investigated by the authorities recently. Many media companies have shut down and laid off their staff due to the evolving landscape and also the COVID-19 pandemic.
ARTICLE 19 and the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) condemn online attacks against Kow Gah Chie, a woman journalist who writes for Malaysiakini.