Today's top Malaysian news, sport and lifestyle.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reinforced commitments to shield journalists and registered media organisations from arbitrary action, signalling renewed focus on press freedoms.
The Malaysian Media Council has forwarded three complaints to its newly established independent Complaints Panel for the first time, as the body reported a threefold surge in grievances during the second quarter of 2026.
South Korean prosecutors have indicted eight people, including six journalists from a business daily, for allegedly manipulating stock prices and earning more than 9 billion won through coordinated market manipulation between 2020 and 2024.
eBay has agreed to pay nearly US$50 million to David and Ina Steiner, founders of EcommerceBytes newsletter, following a harassment campaign by former employees angered by critical reporting. The settlement includes US$7 million in charitable donations and contains no confidentiality clause.
Six Indonesian press unions have called on President Prabowo Subianto to apologize for describing journalists as 'londo ireng' (black Dutchmen), a colonial-era slur implying collaboration with foreign powers. The unions warn the comments threaten press freedom.
Hong Kong's security chief has told booksellers they must ensure their titles do not endanger national security, as police conduct the third wave of arrests against independent bookstores in four months.
Indian filmmakers increasingly face censorship demands from authorities, with one film about a Sikh activist pulled from streaming after four years of certification battles. Critics warn of deteriorating creative freedom in the world's largest film-producing nation.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has warned the Malaysian media industry against adopting new technologies at the expense of journalistic values and national identity, cautioning that the country risks manipulation through digital dominance.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has urged media organisations to balance press freedom with ethical responsibility, warning that artificial intelligence and digital technology can be misused without proper safeguards.
Laos has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to modernise its media sector, adopted at the inaugural National Media Congress in Vientiane. President Thongloun Sisoulith outlined five priorities including greater cooperation among outlets and improved professional standards.
Vietnam has arrested three executives from a publishing house that released a biography of Ho Chi Minh, the Communist Party founder. Authorities also penalised 23 news outlets for coverage of the book, intensifying state control over historical narratives.
Singapore's High Court has ordered Bloomberg to pay S$230,000 to each of two cabinet ministers over an article examining luxury property transactions, in a significant defamation ruling that has implications for press freedom in the region.
Israeli authorities arrested four settlers on Saturday in connection with an alleged assault on a CNN news crew operating in the occupied West Bank, marking another flashpoint involving international media coverage.
Malaysia's Parliament advanced legislation on competition law and rice industry regulation during its third sitting week, while debating human rights, healthcare digitalisation and the 1MDB debt burden totalling RM51.4 billion.
South Korea has enacted strict penalties for spreading false information online, including fines up to 1 billion won. However, press groups and opposition lawmakers warn the vaguely-worded law could suppress free speech and create self-censorship.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has established a complaints framework requiring all media grievances to go through the Malaysian Media Council before any investigation. The move sparks debate over press regulation.
Malaysia's Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has urged the newly formed Malaysian Media Council to expand its membership, particularly among social media platforms, to establish stronger self-regulatory mechanisms across the country's media ecosystem.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced that complaints against journalists from recognised media organisations will now be referred to the Malaysian Media Council for review before any enforcement action is taken.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attributes Malaysia's fall to 95th in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index to enforcement actions against media over sensitive content involving religion, race, and the royal institution, rather than political censorship.