Malaysia

Malaysia. A country I’ve visited several times, including a 3 week work stint. A country I’ve very much enjoyed visiting. But beyond what visitors see, it’s a country oscillating between democratic institutions and authoritarian practices. One area which illustrates this is the difficulties facing free speech. Malaysia was 119 in World Press Freedom Index in 2021 according to Reporters Without Borders. The Malaysian authorities are increasingly using criminal investigations to harass journalists, protest leaders, and various other critics of the government, Recent cases have targeted people for organizing public protests, reporting on allegations of police abuse, drawing cartoons, and posting an ironic Spotify playlist.