Although Malaysia is a democratic country, the Malaysian government has the power to

control the print media. Malaysian citizen cannot simply express their thoughts about certain
issues especially towards the government and also to avoid from hurting other’s feeling
(Palansamy,2015). Not only that, if the citizen publish any fake news, it is also consider as an
offence. This is because of the sanctioning of the Printing Presses and Publications Act
1984(PPPA) enacted by Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong with the counsel and
consent of Dewan Negara and also Dewan Rakyat in Parliament amassed. The Act is to
govern the use of printing presses, the printing, importation, reproduction, publishing and
distribution of publications and for issues associated therewith.
All printing presses require to have a license granted by the Home Affairs Minister and the
license must be renewed every year. (Wan Shakiki Mazlan n.d.) PPPA was first presented by
the British colonial government as the Printing Ordinance of 1984 toward the start of the state
of emergency, as to restrain Communistactivities that are viewed as a threat to the formation.

Race riots happened in 1969, hence the Printing Presses and Publication Act (PPPA) was
revised. Later after the incident, in 1984 the PPPA was amended and The Act explains that it
is a criminal offense to have or utilize a printing press without a licence conceded by the
Home Affairs Minister.