Malaysia achieves global recognition in open data and press freedom
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has achieved two significant milestones on the global stage in open data and press freedom, says Nga Kor Ming.
The Housing and Local Government Minister praised these accomplishments, particularly Malaysia's top ranking in the Open Data Inventory (ODIN) 2024/25.
"Malaysia made history by securing the top position in the ODIN with an impressive overall score of 90."
"The country outperformed 198 others, including developed nations such as Singapore, Finland, Denmark, and Poland," he said at a press conference during the Sentuhan Kasih KPKT 3.0 programme in Kuantan on Saturday (May 3).
Nga said that this achievement reflects the Madani government's commitment to data transparency and public accessibility, particularly through the launch of the OpenDOSM portal in 2023.
The platform modernised and centralised access to Malaysia's official data, while reinforcing the country's digital governance framework, he added.
"Open data is crucial because it supports evidence-based policy planning. When data is openly accessible, it enables more accurate, informed decision-making by policymakers. This also helps build public trust and strengthens governance," he said.
Nga added that this achievement highlights Malaysia's capability to compete globally in terms of openness and coverage of official data.
He said this further cemented Malaysia's status as a global leader in open government data.
Meanwhile, Nga announced significant improvement in Malaysia's ranking on the World Press Freedom Index 2025, published by Reporters Without Borders.
"Based on the latest evaluation, the country's ranking rose 19 spots from 107th in 2024 to 88th this year, with its score improving from 52.07 to 56.09 points," he said.
This marked improvement is seen as a positive sign of ongoing reforms and improvements in the nation's media landscape, he added.
Among ASEAN nations, he said that Malaysia now holds the second-highest position on the index, behind Thailand, which is ranked 85th globally.
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