Malaysia moves up 19 places on Press Freedom Index

PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia has moved up 19 places on the 2011/2012 World Press Freedom Index and is now ranked at 122 compared to 141 in 2010.

The annual index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders, involved 178 countries. It placed Malaysia ahead of other Asean countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philip-pines.

'This year's index sees many changes; changes that reflect a year that was incredibly rich in developments, especially in the Arab world,' Reporters Without Borders said, adding that the past year also highlighted the role played by netizens in producing and disseminating news.

It said the international media had paid dearly for its coverage of democratic aspirations or opposition movements as totalitarian and repres-sive regimes continued to control news and information.