PUTRAJAYA: Unity government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil dismissed a report by Amnesty International claiming that there was dwindling space for freedom of expression in Malaysia, a year after the promised reforms.
In a press conference, Fahmi said no journalists have been detained and no publications have been closed down.
He said while the government accepts the views of Amnesty International, there was a difference when it came to any 'freedom' to spread slander.
"There is a difference between freedom of expression and freedom to spread slander. There is no issue to criticise the government, but those who create slander including against the prime minister... that slander cannot be accepted.
"So far, there are no journalists being detained or even any publications being closed down," he said.
Earlier today, in the launch of its annual 'The State of the World's Human Rights' report, Amnesty International said the Malaysian government has failed to fulfil commitments to reform restrictive laws, and laws that threaten civic space and further human rights violations in the country.
Its executive director Katrina Jorene Maliamauv said the government must acknowledge its shortcomings and work more collaboratively with civil society groups to ensure that policies and practices are brought in line with international human rights law and standards.
The report highlights various developments and trends in key areas where human rights concerns continued to persist in the country last year, including the death penalty, freedom of expression, police violence and custodial deaths, refugee and migrant rights, indigenous peoples' rights, and the right to a healthy environment.
"On their suggestion to abolish the death penalty, Fahmi said the matter should be referred to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said."
On another matter, Fahmi said the cabinet has not discussed the call by former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Seri Hishamudin Yunus for the government to publicly apologise to the victims of Op Lalang, 37 years ago.