PWP Calls On Malaysia To Leverage ASEAN Chairmanship To Champion Regional Press Freedom
By Nurul Syahirah Zulkifli
KANGAR, May 26 (Bernama) -- Perlis Journalists Association (PWP) president Syed Azlan Syed Hizar has called on Malaysia to leverage its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 to champion stronger regional press freedom in the face of digital-era challenges and the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI).
He stressed that balanced and responsible freedom of the press is fundamental to ensuring information stability, policy transparency and the maturity of democracy across ASEAN member states.
'Malaysia is in a strategic position to steer comprehensive discussions on ethics, press freedom and the future of journalism in ASEAN, especially in light of AI, which risks undermining the credibility of traditional media, accelerating the spread of misinformation, and eroding public trust,' he told Bernama recently.
The 46th ASEAN Summit, themed Inclusion and Sustainability, is taking place in Kuala Lumpur from today until tomorrow.
Citing the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, Syed Azlan noted the wide disparity in press freedom across ASEAN nations, with Thailand ranked 85th, followed by Malaysia (88), Brunei (97), the Philippines (116) and Singapore (123).
Ranking significantly lower were Indonesia (127), Laos (150) and Cambodia (161), while Myanmar and Vietnam lagged at 169 and 173, respectively, out of 180 countries.
Syed Azlan stressed the need for firm action to ensure Malaysia continues to advance in press freedom rankings.
He noted that countries with ethical and professional press freedom often attract higher levels of foreign investment due to greater transparency in policies and perceived stability.
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