Opposition parties call on Govt to free the press - The Star

May 3, 2008 By ROYCE CHEAH

PETALING JAYA: The enactment of a Freedom of Information Act and the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) is necessary for a free media so that democracy can flourish in Malaysia.

In marking World Press Freedom Day on Saturday, Opposition parties called on the Government to establish a free media environment.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said having a free media was important and that it was the Government’s attitude to muzzle the mainstream media during the last general election that led to the creation of cyber warriors.

“The Prime Minster himself admitted the effect the cyber warriors had but unfortunately did not take note of it.

“Investigations by the authorities on a blogger and a columnist of The Sun on the eve of World Press Freedom Day also shows that the Government fails to understand what the masses want,” Dr Wan Azizah said.

DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, said the PPPA required publishers and printers to apply for fresh permits annually and has prevented free and independent journalism.

“This has led to even not only senior editors but also reporters resorting to self censorship.”

Guan Eng said the situation had gone from bad to worse over the years with Malaysia dropping from 92nd place in 2006 to 142 in 2007 in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index.

“Even under the tight control of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia was ranked 100 and 104 in 2002 and 2003 respectively.”

Citing DAP’s commitment to press and media freedom as genuine, Guan Eng said a group of DAP MPs was setting up a Caucus on Freedom of Expression and Information which will get more people to support the cause.

Meanwhile, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should embrace press freedom reforms to ensure that the judiciary and anti-corruption reforms he had announced were meaningful and sustainable.

"The latest press ranking for Malaysia being placed at 141 in the Freedom House survey report on Global Media is another adverse international verdict on the state of the media in Malaysia.

"Abdullah should use the World Press Freedom Day this year to announce press freedom reforms, especially an end to the annual newspaper licensing requirement as well as the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act," Kit Siang said.