No law grants absolute media freedom, says Anwar Ibrahim

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim asserted that absolute media freedom does not exist anywhere in the world, as all reporting remains bound by law. He addressed concerns raised in Parliament regarding journalists potentially facing charges under acts such as the Sedition Act and the Official Secrets Act, which critics argue could stifle media freedom.

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There is no one that I know of, no law in the world that gives absolute freedom to all media to say anything. None.

Anwar explained that while journalists and the Prime Minister are subject to the law, the government aims to avoid easily prosecuting reporters. He pointed to the establishment of the Media Council as a mechanism to manage any transgressions by media practitioners. He noted that in the past year, despite numerous reports that displeased various parties, no cases directly involved journalists.

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The Prime Minister and media practitioners are bound by law. But I agree, do not easily drag journalists into cases considered by government departments. That is why now there is a Media Council.

The Prime Minister further clarified the scope of the Media Council, stating it only covers registered media organizations and companies. It does not extend to personal opinions, political party stances, or views from individuals not affiliated with media bodies. However, he assured that journalists from established media outlets would not be automatically prosecuted or investigated, as complaints must now be referred to the Media Council before any action is taken.

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Only the Media Council is for the established accounts or established companies. It does not involve individual stances, party views, and so on, which are not members of the media.