A new report from EWMI’s Promoting Freedom of Expression in Malaysia (ProFoEm) partner, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) highlights growing pressures on journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens expressing critical views in Malaysia. Released on December 14, 2024, the 2024 Freedom of Expression Report examines the state of free speech and civic space in Malaysia. The report finds growing pressures on journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens who express critical views. The report finds that restrictive laws—particularly the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998—continue to be widely used to investigate or prosecute speech. In 2024 alone, authorities invoked such laws 187 times in cases affecting expression, assembly, and public discourse. These legal tools, often framed as protecting public order or harmony, have increasingly been applied to political commentary, online speech, and sensitive topics involving race, religion, and governance.
While the Malaysian government has pledged reforms to strengthen democratic freedoms, the report concludes that meaningful legal change has yet to materialize. Instead, enforcement practices and legislative amendments have continued to expand state powers over digital communication and public speech. The authors argue that protecting freedom of expression will require clearer legal safeguards, transparent policymaking, and reforms that align Malaysia’s laws with international human rights standards—ensuring that both offline and online spaces remain open for debate, criticism, and civic participation.