Improved Ranking Proof There Is Press Freedom In M'sia - Says Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's improved ranking in the 2011/2012 Press Freedom Index proves to the world that the country is open to freedom of speech and people making known their views, said Malaysian Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim. He said although Malaysia was in a better position in the rankings, there was still a need for a benchmark concerning press freedom so that media practitioners respected the laws of the country. "We cannot be blindsided by what is deemed as freedom of the press in the West. "What we need is to follow the United Nation's charter concerning the freedom to state one's views and opinions," he told reporters here Wednesday. He was asked to comment on Malaysia moving up 19 notches, from 141 in 2010 to 122 in the 2011/2012 index released by Reporters Without Borders. The latest rankings showed Malaysia to be better than its neighbours like Singapore (135), Thailand (137), the Philippines (140) and Indonesia (146). -- BERNAMA