Speaking during Malaysia's third National Journalists Day (Hawana), Anwar, who was elected into office late last year, said he encouraged the media to get rid of the old culture of writing in favor of the ruling government.

“Due to the changes in times and political climate, this government has decided the media in this country should get freedom without censorship.

“This also includes the opposition’s view. Criticisms against the Prime Minister and the government should be voiced out without fear,” Anwar said in his speech to open the Hawana in the city of Ipoh, in the western part of Malaysia.

Anwar, however, warned there were issues the media should be very careful in handling so as not to create conflicts in society.

“If there are any criticisms against the government, we should accept it and try to fix the problem. However, this doesn’t include sparking racist and religious issues that may destroy the unity of the people,” the 75-year old politician said. 

In the latter part of his 30-minute speech, Anwar also expressed his optimism about the future of the traditional media and that the print media would continue to an play important role in politics.

“Reading the newspaper is a compulsory habit of mine and I believe the role played by newspapers is more relevant than social media,” he said.

In the past few years, human rights activists have slammed successive Malaysian governments for their efforts to crack down on media freedom.

In 2018, the country's parliament passed the anti-fake news law the free press watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) considered as "having all the hallmarks of government efforts [at] suppressing media freedom".

The law was repealed by the administration of Najib's successor Mahathir Mohamed in 2019.

In recent years, press freedom has improved significantly in Malaysia, with RSF reporting this year on the country registering the highest score in the press freedom index among ASEAN countries.

Malaysia jumped six places to 113 in the World Press Freedom Index 2022.

Malaysia's position at 113 out of 180 countries is ahead of Thailand (115), Indonesia (117), Singapore (139), Cambodia (142), Brunei (144), Philippines (147), Laos (161), Vietnam (174) and Myanmar (176).

This year, Malaysia is ranked 73^rd in the index, the highest Malaysia achieved in many years.

Earlier on Sunday, Malaysia's communications and digital minister Fahmi Fadzil reiterated his government's stance that the country needed independent media brave enough to speak with neither fear nor favor.

Fahmi also said his government would take measures to guarantee the independence of media and ensure the dissemination of truthful news and information and plans were in the works for the establishment of the much-awaited Press Council.

"Malaysia is ranked 73^rd in the World Press Freedom Index […] But this position should not be taken for granted; there’s a lot of work to be done," Fahmi said.