Malaysia media guide

Malaysia "seems to have a rich media landscape, but the state media wield a great deal of influence", says Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The media avoid taboo subjects or criticism of politicians and officials, and legislation allows for the jailing of journalists, including under the sedition law, the Official Secrets Act, and a 2021 "anti-fake news" ordinance.

The TV sector includes state-owned and private networks, and pay TV platforms.

Media ownership is highly concentrated. Media Prima is the largest conglomerate. Its national TV networks include TV3, the biggest terrestrial broadcaster. Print newspapers have experienced falling circulations.

State-owned Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) operates two main TV networks. Private stations broadcast in Malay, Tamil, Chinese and English.

The online media are very active and some outlets "cherish their editorial autonomy", says RSF. Online and social media are the main sources of news.

There were 30.9 million internet users by July 2022, comprising 94% of the population (Internetworldstats.com).

• Media guides by BBC Monitoring

Press

• New Straits Times - English-language daily

• The Star - English-language daily

• The Sun - English-language daily

• The Malay Mail - English-language daily

Television

• Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) - state-run, operates TV1, TV2

• TV3 - commercial terrestrial network

• ntv7 - commercial terrestrial network

• 8TV - commercial terrestrial network

• TV9 - commercial terrestrial network

• Astro - pay TV, networks include Astro Awani news channel

Radio

• Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) - state-run, operates some 30 national and regional networks

• Era - private

• Hot FM - private

• Sinar - private

News agency/Online

• Bernama - state-run agency

• Malaysiakini - news site

• Free Malaysia Today (FMT) - news site