The government has within a week given a second warning to the mainstream media that they must not cross the boundary set by the government. The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) condemns the call by the Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin to the media not to quote from blogs and online portals. The minister's call is a further bite into editorial independence and to compel the media to toe the government's line.

In a statement posted on March 22 on the Ministry's official website, the Minister urged the mainstream press not publish information from the Internet, especially blogs. Calling blogs' content as provocative, inaccurate and politically motivated, he said journalists who quoted them are indirectly promoting and giving blogs undeserved credit. The minister also asked the public to refer to the mainstream press for credible information.

His statement came after the Ministry of Internal Security, headed by the Prime Minister himself, issued a similar warning to all mainstream press on March 13, as reported by the online news site Malaysiakini.com and The Sun daily.

CIJ condemns the government's warnings which smacks of political desire to gag the press. In an environment where the media is subject to administrative and legislative controls, there is little confidence in information from the "authoritative sources".The people's desire to know reflects the obvious weakness in the media system in Malaysia caused by an interfering Executive. That the warnings came amidst investigation of a high-profile corruption case, which was first broke out in the blogosphere, reinforces the impression that the government has an agenda to limit public discussion and control public opinion.

CIJ calls the government to terminate the warnings, repeal the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 and set up a Parliamentary Select Committee on communication rights to uphold its promises and guarantee in Federal Constitution for freedom of expression.

Issued by

Sonia Randhawa
Executive Director

For more information please contact Advocacy Officer, Wai Fong at 03 4023 0772