Malaysia / Asia

  
A security guard is seen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on January 31, 2020. Malaysian authorities recently filed criminal charges against journalist Wan Noor Hayati Wan Alias. (Reuters/Lim Huey Teng)

Malaysian journalist charged over coronavirus Facebook posts

Bangkok, February 6, 2020 — Malaysian authorities should immediately drop all charges against journalist Wan Noor Hayati Wan Alias and allow reporters to freely cover and comment on the coronavirus outbreak, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Travelers are seen at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia on February 15, 2016. Syrian Kurdish journalist Himbervan Kousa was recently arrested at the airport. (Reuters/Lai Seng Sin)

Syrian Kurdish journalist Himbervan Kousa arrested at Kuala Lumpur airport

Beirut, December 10, 2019 — Malaysian authorities should disclose their reasons for holding Syrian Kurdish journalist Himbervan Kousa or release him immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on June 1, 2018. The Malaysian parliament on August 16, 2018, repealed a law imposing criminal penalties for

CPJ welcomes repeal of Malaysia’s “fake news” law

Washington, D.C., August 16, 2018–The Malaysian parliament today repealed a law imposing criminal penalties for “fake news” that had been enacted earlier this year by the previous government of Prime Minister Najib Razak, according to news reports.

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Political cartoonist Zunar, pictured in his Kuala Lumpur office in 2015. A court in Malaysia dropped nine sedition charges against Zunar. (AFP/Mohd Rasfan)

Malaysia withdraws sedition charges against cartoonist Zunar

New York, July 31, 2018–A Kuala Lumpur court yesterday dropped nine sedition charges against Malaysia’s political cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, known as Zunar, according to news reports. If convicted, Zunar, who was honored with CPJ’s 2015 International Press Freedom Award, could have been jailed for up to 43 years.

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CPJ calls on Malaysia’s Mahathir to prioritize press freedom

CPJ calls on newly elected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to prioritize the promotion and protection of press freedom, and to immediately take action to repeal the recently enacted “fake news” law and other restrictive legislation.

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Malaysia's landmark Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur in March 2015. A Malaysian court on April 30, 2018, handed down the nation's first conviction under its recently enacted

Malaysia issues first ‘fake news’ conviction

Bangkok, April 30, 2018–In a verdict with grave implications for press freedom, a Malaysian court today handed down the nation’s first conviction under its recently enacted “fake news” law, according to press reports.

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An advertisement at a train station in Kuala Lumpur on March 26 reads 'Sharing a lie makes u a liar.' A draft bill to fight fake news in Malaysia proposes 10-year jail terms for sharing content authorities deem to be false. (AFP/Mohd Rasfan)

Malaysian Parliament to vote on ‘fake news’ bill

New York, March 26, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the Malaysian Parliament to withdraw a draft bill on fake news. Under the proposed Anti-Fake News 2018 bill, anyone convicted of creating, circulating or publishing fake news online or on social media could face a 10-year jail term and fine of up to…

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Cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhauqe, better known as Zunar, poses in prison clothes with plastic handcuffs at a February 2, 2015, event launching a book in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. (AP)

Malaysian authorities repeatedly arrest, harass award-winning cartoonist Zunar

Bangkok, December 19, 2016–Malaysian authorities should drop all criminal charges against editorial cartoonist Zulikiflee Anwar Ulhaque, better known as Zunar, and stop harassing him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police arrested Zunar on December 17, the cartoonist said in a statement, the latest incident in authorities’ relentless campaign of judicial and police harassment…

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Malaysia intensifies harassment of award-winning cartoonist

Bangkok, November 28, 2016―Malaysian authorities should drop all criminal charges against award-winning cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, popularly known as Zunar, and cease harassing him for his work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Members of the pro-government "red shirt" group, shown here in a September 16, 2015, file photo, protested outside news website Malaysiakini's office in Kuala Lumpur on November 5. The group's leader had threatened to "tear down" its office two days prior. (Reuters/Olivia Harris)

Independent Malaysian news website faces threats, harassment

Bangkok, November 8, 2016 – Malaysia’s government should cease harassing independent news site Malaysiakini, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police have opened a criminal investigation into the website, and a government-linked pressure group has threatened to “tear down” the website’s office.

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