This follows a Malaysiakini report that new media cards for journalists from online media outlets will have shorter validity periods. A later report quoted the information department as saying it is “reviewing the SOPs for issuing media cards”.

In a statement, NUJ said the communications ministry should maintain the two-year validity period for media cards, regardless of which media outlet journalists worked for.

“We hope there will be more transparency from the ministry on its plans for the media tag review,” NUJ general secretary Teh Athira Yusof said.

Media cards allow journalists to cover official events, such as those hosted by the Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament and police.

Local journalists’ media tags are usually valid for two years, while journalists working for foreign media are given a one-year pass.

Malaysiakini quoted the information department as saying the review of SOPs for media cards followed a directive from communications minister Fahmi Fadzil after the launch of the code of ethics for journalists last month.

The review will reportedly affect the terms for media cards issued to journalists working for foreign press and local online media outlets.

Teh Athira said the government should focus on reviewing the Printing Presses and Publications Act and establishing the media council instead of changing the terms for the issuance of media cards.

She added that reducing the validity period for media cards for any journalist would be a step backwards in terms of media freedom.

“It looks like the more we ask for press freedom, the more they try to control and take it back in other ways,” she said.