KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 -- The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has urged the government to repeal laws that restrict freedom of expression after the country dropped 34 places in the World Press Freedom Index this year to 107th place.

Its director Wathshlah G. Naidu said the government has made little progress on repealing and amending laws that restrict media freedom despite promises made by Pakatan Harapan during its general election campaign in 2022.

"The government continues to suppress journalists from critical and unbiased reporting as archaic values remain true in political institutions. As the Reporters Without Borders posits, draconian legislation continues to be prominently used in the government to both uphold their agenda...