KUALA LUMPUR: Press freedom in Malaysia has dropped to a new low by ranking of 145 out of 179 countries in the World Press Freedom Index.

Malaysia fell 23 spots to its lowest ever position from the previous ranking of 122 in 2011-2012.

The index, compiled in the annual publication of Reporters Without Borders, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that advocates freedom of the press and freedom of information, remarked that Malaysia was ranked so because access to information was becoming more and more limited.

This was despite efforts by the government to amend laws related to media freedom such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act in 2012 allowing more online news portals and permits for newspapers to operate.

"These small plus points for press freedom in Malaysia cannot hold the tide against attacks on media," said Masjaliza Hamzah, executive director of Centre For Independent Journalism.

"Last year, at least 12 journalists were harassed, threatened, assaulted, arrested and had their equipment damaged or seized while covering of the Bersih 3 rally. Some of those professional reporting tools seized had yet to be returned," she said.

She also said she was not surprised Malaysia's ranking had gone from bad to worse.

"The slide in Malaysia's press freedom ranking is bad news not just for media but for Malaysians as it means that media's ability to bring them news that's accurate, timely and fair had been compromised," she said.

"These requirements are much needed during an election period when it is important for voters to get reliable information about election issues and candidates and not public relations material -- so they know who best to cast their votes for."

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) felt the government needed to make more efforts to abolish laws that hindered press freedom.

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Malaysia at lowest ever in press freedom index