Malaysian press laws violate social responsibility and press freedom

ABSTRACT This study researched how Malaysian press law prevents journalists from discharging their duties. Using social responsibility theory of the press, the research highlighted how the Malaysian press law can interfere with journalists providing objective news content to the audience. This research brought to the forefront how the country’s press law adversely impacts on press freedom and thereby ethical conduct of media outlets. The study brought out various provisions of the law that are an impediment to objective news reporting and suggested the setting up of a non-governmental organisation in Malaysia to arbitrate cases against the press in order to ensure press freedom in the country.