“Malaysia, truly Asia” is the motto with which the government of the south-east Asian tiger economy courts visitors from all over the world; a catchy slogan which not only incorporates the rich biodiversity, ethnic, religious and cultural diversity of the country, but also describes a tarnished reality. This includes the rigid social and political conditions under which Malaysia has been governed since its independence in 1957. Reporters Without Borders placed Malaysia 131st on its 2009 ranking of press freedom, just ahead of Singapore and directly behind Thailand.
