The media of Malaysia include television, radio, newspapers, and web-based media such as bloggers. Many media outlets are either owned directly by the government of Malaysia (e.g. Bernama) or owned by component parties of the Barisan Nasional coalition government (e.g. the Media Prima group, which is owned by the United Malays National Organisation).
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There are over 30 newspapers and tabloids published mainly in Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil. The most prominent newspapers include The Star, New Straits Times, theSun, Berita Harian, Utusan Malaysia, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Nanyang Siang Pau.
State-owned RTM operates two free-to-air terrestrial local television channels licensed to broadcast in Malaysia, as well as 32 radio channels nationwide. Meanwhile, Media Prima is the parent company of four television channels and three radio channels.
The regulated freedom of the press has been criticised. Although critics concede that journalists "probably won’t be hauled off and shot" for being critical of the government, it has been claimed that the government creates a chilling effect through threats of reduced employment opportunities and refusing journalists' family members "a place at one of the better public universities". Legislation such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act have also been cited as curtailing freedom of expression.[1]
In 2007, a government agency — the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission — issued a directive to all private television and radio stations to refrain from broadcasting speeches made by opposition leaders.[2] The move was condemned by politicians from the opposition Democratic Action Party.[3] The directive was later withdrawn by the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry.[4]
Malaysia was ranked 141 out of 178 countries in the Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders in 2010.[5]
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