Printing presses in Malaysia are limited by parliament acts such as Official Secrets Act 1972- is a statute in Malaysia prohibiting the dissemination of information classified as an official secret, Internal Security Act 1960- preventive detention law in force, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984-licensing control on print media, and Sedition Act 1948-prevent the spread of seditious information . Initiate these laws are to ensure the press will not cover the news that will bring negative effect or even riots to the country and society.
However, because of these laws, the press appears to have lost its freedom to cover the news that may be important to the public but may bring negative impact to government. Furthermore, journalist may cover up in their writing because of the unlimited power of these laws. Every print media in Malaysia required having a license granted by the Home Affairs Minister. The Home Minister is given absolute discretion in granting and revocation of licensed printing press, Should one possess or use an unlicensed printing press, the one may be imprisoned for up to three years and/or fined up to Rm20, 000.
A deposit made under of Section 10 of the Act will also be forfeited in such case. For instance in the 2006, Caricature Nabi Muhammad. Sarawak Tribune was suspended indefinitely following by Berita Petang and Guang Ming Daily was suspended for two weeks after publishing the caricature of Prophet Muhammad. While The New Straits Times were facing the license threatened. China Press had faced the licensing revoke threat after published a story about a video clip of a woman doing squats in the nude in a police lock up. The newspaper reported that the woman was a Chinese national.
The Government reacted by publicly apologizing to China. Three weeks later, the newspaper was asked for an explanation as an inquiry found that the woman was Malay. Despite having carried an apology, ” China Press” gave in to pressure and announced the resignation of the two editors. This coincided with the renewal of the paper’s annual license under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. Oriental Daily, who commented on political pressure on ” China Press”, is also believed to have caused the ministry to issue a stern warning against them.
