Award for Malaysia's First Online Magazine

November 24, 2000
Web posted at: 11:07 AM HKT (0307 GMT)

By Nick Easen and Veronica Pedrosa
CNN Interactive Writers

HONG KONG (CNN) -- Under a strict media licensing regime "Malaysiakini" editor, Steven Gan is the first Malaysian to be presented the International Press Freedom Award in its 10-year history.

Gan set a precedent as the first online journalist to receive the prize. The founder of the Web-exclusive magazine was one of four selected by the Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based organization dedicated to the defense of press freedom.

Although little known outside of south-east Asia, the one year-old Web site called "Malaysia Now" attracts more than 100,000 visitors a day with stories in both English and Malay. It has represented a popular alternative to the timid press culture and self-censorship present in Malaysia's daily papers, magazines and broadcast media.

Anwar Ibrahim's troubles helped spark Web site

The online magazine was started by a frustrated Gan in the wake of the trial of former deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, and the politically sensitivities that ensued. In an interview with CNN, he said "it is a fallacy to think there is complete freedom on the net. The only difference between Malaysiakini and the mainstream media is that we do not need to apply for a publishing license."

The government has implemented a litany of restrictive laws that dampen freedom of expression including the prohibitive law of defamation and Internet security. Three publications have been banned this year alone. Malaysiakini, however, has used the unfettered space of the Internet to challenge the existing order.

"To give the government credit, so far it hasn't harassed any of our journalists," he said. "In fact the government has tried to engage our readers. One of the ministers … has participated in on-line questions and answers on the Web site."

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's race to promote the capital Kuala Lumpur as a cyber center for south-east Asia has led to no government control of the web. "I don't expect Prime Minister Mahathir to crack down on the Internet. But given the situation you never know for sure" said Gan. "We are taking a risk, there is a loophole there that we are exploiting and so far so good."

Malaysiakini is starting to make a small profit from advertising and continues to provide a model for press freedom. "In the old days the mainstream media had a complete monopoly on information, but not anymore. People are receiving news on the net and I think the Internet is playing a role in breaching that wall of censorship that has been created," said Gan.

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