Articles by Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
Malaysia: ‘Government must stop harassment and intimidation of peaceful protesters’
Several civil society groups are urging Malaysian authorities to stop persecuting activists and other citizens who are protesting against the government’s pandemic response.
Malaysian groups ‘strongly condemn raids against filmmaker and artist’
The police raided the office of Freedom Film Network over an animated film narrating the true story of a boy who experienced torture while in police custody. Various groups said the police should be held accountable for their actions.
Malaysia: ‘Authorities reverting to repressive tactics of former governments to throttle expression online’
During a press briefing at Rights Con, several speakers commented on the “backsliding of free speech protections under the Malaysian government since March 2020 and highlighted some of the most problematic developments in the country.”
Malaysian media groups: “Stop the crackdown, promote sustainability and independence”
The Centre for Independent Journalism, Gerakan Media Merdeka and the National Union of Journalists Malaysia highlighted several issues that have a chilling effect on media freedom in Malaysia.
Malaysia’s “extreme punitive measures” to criminalize “fake news”
The Centre for Independent Journalism warned that the new ordinance provides for a three-year imprisonment term for the publication and distribution of “fake news” relating to COVID-19 or the Emergency Proclamation.
Concern over contempt ruling in “Malaysiakini” case
The Centre for Independent Journalism has warned that the court ruling could set precedents of further burdens to be placed on online media, spelling doom for media freedom in Malaysia.
Malaysia’s emergency proclamation could be used to ‘infringe on freedom of expression’
The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) urged authorities not to use the emergency as a guise to arbitrarily curtail the public’s right to information or create an environment of fear by censoring or punishing journalists and netizens seeking information.
Legal defence fund established to support journalists facing threats in Malaysia
Civil society groups belonging to the Freedom of Expression Cluster said the Legal Defence Fund was launched in response to the worsening attacks on journalists, human rights defenders, and activists in 2020.