International NGO, Human Rights Watch, today raised concerns that Malaysian authorities have been increasingly responding to criticism by initiating criminal investigations on journalists, activists, and even ordinary citizens. There seems to be a steadily narrowing of the boundaries of what can be said without the threat of reprisal. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Gayathry S. Venkiteswaran, Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham Malaysia if legal protections for journalists exists.