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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Malaysia has slipped to its lowest ranking ever in the Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) press freedom index.
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) in its "Malaysia civil and political rights report 2008" overview report, noted that the country had slipped by eight points to the 132nd position from 124th position last year.
Suaram executive director Yap Swee Seng said that the drop in ranking was no surprise. "For the first time, we saw bloggers being charged with sedition and criminal defamation.
Freedom of expression was most severely repressed this year," said Yap. The report was launched yesterday in conjunction with International Human Rights Day and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948.
In the report, which highlights key civil and political events, Suaram notes the lack of government response to reforms, democratisation and greater respect of human rights while continuing to hold minimal regard for human rights.
The full copy of the report will be available in April.
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