Myanmar’s information minister has rejected widespread domestic and international criticism that the country is backpedalling on media freedom, and stressed the need for state-owned news organizations to continue informing citizens about government policies and decisions, RFA reported.

“I’ve been hearing that our country is deprived of media freedom, even more so now than it was under the previous government,” said Information Minister Pe Myint during the opening ceremony of a conference on media development in Myanmar in the capital Naypyidaw.

The minister has criticised international reports on media freedom in the country, such as the annual World Press Freedom Index issued by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) saying they are biased.