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Joseph Sipalan

Malaysia’s government is facing allegations of muzzling free speech after the social media account of a leading independent news portal was suspended shortly after publishing a story critical of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Prominent online news outlet Malaysiakini revealed that its Facebook pages were temporarily taken down late on Tuesday, hours after it had released an investigative report into the prime minister’s own social media use.
The report alleged that more than 260 suspicious social media accounts were engaged in a coordinated campaign to amplify positive engagement with Anwar’s official Facebook page.
“Meta later stated that the suspension was due to an alleged violation of its community standards,” Malaysiakini said in a statement, referring to Facebook’s parent company.

Access to its pages had since been restored, the news organisation reported. Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment from This Week in Asia.
The episode has prompted criticism from civil society groups and opposition figures, who warn that it signals an escalation in government efforts to curtail dissent and undermine press freedom.
It comes amid an increasingly restrictive media landscape in Malaysia. In January, the government introduced new regulations mandating that social media platforms obtain official licences and actively police undesirable content such as scams and posts deemed provocative.
While TikTok, WeChat and Telegram have secured licences, Meta remains unlicensed.
Anwar’s administration has intensified its regulation of public discourse surrounding issues of race, religion and royalty – collectively known as the “3Rs” – that authorities argue are flashpoints for potential unrest.
Anwar seems to be … hell bent on having praise showered on him
Rafique Rashid Ali, Malaysian opposition politician
The suspension of Malaysiakini’s pages occurred mere hours after authorities detained two men, an opposition youth leader and a TikTok influencer, over allegedly offensive social media posts.
Critics say Anwar’s government is taking a heavier-handed approach against dissent and critical journalism than even the administrations of his long-standing rival, two-time former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.
“Anwar seems to be even worse. A kakistocratic dictator hell bent on having praise showered on him,” said Rafique Rashid Ali of the opposition party Pejuang.
Student group Suara Mahasiswa UMS said in a statement that the incident raised the spectre of political interference in Malaysia’s democratic spaces.
“We reject any effort to restrict the voice of the media and stress that freedom to report is a right that must be defended to make sure the truth reaches the people,” the group said.


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Malaysiakini’s Facebook suspension raises press freedom concerns in Malaysia

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a state visit to East Timor on September 23. Photo: AFP

The Facebook app icon is seen on a smartphone. Shortly before its suspension, Malaysiakini reported on a coordinated campaign to amplify positive engagement with Anwar’s official Facebook page. Photo: AP 

Anwar vs Mahathir: Malaysia’s corruption showdown comes full circle

Illustration: Huy Truong

Malaysia’s former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks at his office in Putrajaya in 2016. Photo: AFP

Former prime minister Najib Razak (centre) is escorted by police officers to a hearing at Kuala Lumpur High Court last year. Photo: EPA-EFE

Daim Zainuddin (centre) pictured in 2018 while he was an adviser to Malaysia’s government. Photo: AFP

Mahathir (centre), his son Mukhriz (left) and Muhyiddin Yassin appear at a rally together in 2016. Photo: AFP

Anwar Ibrahim (left) and Mahathir Mohamad in October 2018, during their brief reconciliation ahead of that year’s election. Photo: EPA-EFE

A police officer holds up a picture of the items seized from properties linked to Najib Razak in 2018. Photo: AFP

Anwar speaks at Umno headquarters in 2023 as party leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left), also a deputy prime minister of Malaysia, looks on. Photo: AP

Malaysia’s push for more internet laws raises censorship concerns and crackdown on dissent

Malaysia’s push for more internet regulations, including a “kill switch” to control harmful online content aimed at minors, has raised concerns about broader internet control and suppression of dissent. Photo: Shutterstock

Chegubard was arrested and remanded in custody for two days during investigations into alleged offences under Malaysia’s Official Secrets Act and internet laws. Photo: Facebook / @ Che’GuBard Official

Malaysia’s Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil. Photo: AFP

Papagomo was charged in May regarding an allegedly seditious post related to Malaysia’s king on X. Photo: Facebook / @ Papagomo

Malaysian influencer Rajewary Appahu, who died in an apparent suicide after receiving online harassment. Her death prompted the government to criminalise cyberbullying. Photo: Instagram/_rajeswaryappahu

Amnesty International says that during Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s tenure, there has been a narrowing space for freedom of expression. Photo: Hadi Azmi

In quiet rebellion, Malaysians push back against book bans

Despite a reading revival in Malaysia, a surge in book bans has alarmed writers and readers. The government cites morality, but critics decry censorship. Photo: Shutterstock

The number of banned publications reached a peak of 70 a year under scandal-tainted former prime minister Najib Razak. Photo: Reuters

A man walks past a Swatch outlet at a shopping centre in Putrajaya. Malaysia’s government previously banned all Swatch products containing LGBTQ elements. Photo: AP

Malaysian novelist Neddo Khan (third from left) at the premiere of her self-produced adaptation of her young adult novel “Gantung” on May 31 in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Neddo Khan

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The move came hours after the news portal published a report on a network of suspicious social media accounts boosting the PM’s page


The move came hours after the news portal published a report on a network of suspicious social media accounts boosting the PM’s page.


Malaysiakini’s Facebook suspension raises press freedom concerns in Malaysia

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The move came hours after the news portal published a report on a network of suspicious social media accounts boosting the PM’s page

The move came hours after the news portal published a report on a network of suspicious social media accounts boosting the PM’s page