COMMENT | Malaysia’s move on the World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RWB) from the top 40 percent last year to the bottom 40 percent this year, is highly lamentable and represents a huge reversal of gains made.

The move down 34 places from 73rd position to 107th on the index is a major setback despite what Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil described as “not too bad” when compared to the earlier years of 2021 and 2022 when successive backdoor governments were in power.

The disappointing scores were however only to be expected given the stance...