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Najib Razak’s pre-election pledge to reform draconian media and security laws greeted cautiously by campaigners The Malaysian prime minister has announced he is scrapping the country’s draconian security laws and relaxing media controls, in what he billed as a daringly bold package of reforms. But campaigners and experts greeted Najib Razak’s announcement cautiously, warning that while the measures were a step forward the scope of changes and the impact of the new laws remain to be seen. The move is widely regarded as an attempt to boost support before the elections, with Najib under pressure from within as well as outside the ruling National Front coalition. The move comes two months after police detained hundreds and fired teargas as a 20,000-strong crowd demonstrated for electoral reform in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, in the country’s biggest political rally for years. The colonial-era Internal Security Act (ISA), under which 37 people are held, and the emergency ordinance, under which 6,000 are held, allow indefinite detention without trial. Najib said they would be replaced with anti-terrorism laws affording suspects greater protection. He pledged: “No Malaysian will ever be arrested or detained because of their political affiliations or ideas.” In a televised address on Thursday night, he said: “Many will question whether I am moving too far, too fast …There may be short-term pain for me politically, but in the long term the changes I am announcing tonight will ensure a brighter, more prosperous future for all Malaysians.” Najib also said media outlets would have to be approved only once, rather than applying for licences to be renewed annually – a system that critics say has been used to keep them in line. He promised to review police laws on controlling assembly and other legislation restricting civil liberties. Amnesty International called the announcement a “significant step forward for human rights in Malaysia”. But the group’s Asia-Pacific director, Sam Zarifi, said the government must ensure new security laws comply with international human rights standards and urged it to remove barriers to free speech and peaceful assembly. Dr Bridget Welsh, an expert on Malaysian politics at the Singapore Management University, said: “I think everyone recognises this is a product of political expediency – he is facing pressure from the opposition and civil society and opposition in his own ranks. But good things can come out of political expediency.” She said the detail of new legislation, and its implementation, would be crucial, but added: “From their perspective this is a historic break. I want to give him credit because from the perspective of his personal history, the party’s history, the fact he has been part of the system for a good 40 years – he’s stepping away from some of the things of the past and particularly out of Mahathir’s [Mohamad, the former prime minister] shadow.” Dr Graham Brown, director of the centre for development studies at Bath University, was more sceptical. “I think at the moment most people in Malaysia will probably be taking this with a pinch of salt … He has not flinched from using the draconian powers these laws allow him,” said Brown, a Malaysia specialist. He said while the ISA was the “headline” repressive law, others had more impact in restricting people’s day-to-day lives and freedoms, adding: “It’s not clear how far he’s willing or promising to go in reforming the broader set of laws.” Tony Pua, an opposition MP, warned: “We have yet to see the fine print. We’ve seen sufficient U-turns when Najib comes under pressure from rightwing groups, and we won’t be surprised if the same happens again.” The next election is due in 2013, but Najib, who became prime minister two years ago, is widely expected to call one within months. The National Front, which has been in power for the half-century since Malaysia won independence from Britain, suffered its worst performance in the 2008 elections. The opposition alliance led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, which won more than a third of the parliamentary seats in 2008, has struggled since then due to infighting and Anwar’s second trial. He denies charges of sodomy , which he described in court last month as “a vile and desperate attempt at character assassination” and a bid to consign him to political oblivion. The government denies the case is politically motivated. Anwar was imprisoned on similar charges in 1998 and freed six years later on appeal. Malaysia Human rights Amnesty International Tania Branigan guardian.co.uk