Media freedom and information laws are among the questions and motions tabled for the first day of the 12th parliament, observes V. Gayathry, with a tinge of hope that this new session would raise the profile of media freedom higher on the agenda of parliamentarians and the public.

30 April 2008

By V. Gayathry

Kuala Lumpur: The 12th Parliament started off with promises that media issues and information laws would be on the agenda of the question time and debates.

On the first day after the Agong's Royal Address on Tuesday, at least six questions on blogs and the control over websites (Ir. Hamim Samuri, BN-Ledang), a radio station for the interiors of Sabah (Joseph Pairin Kitingan, BN-Keningau), the live telecast of the proceedings (Liew Chin Tong, DAP-Bukit Bendera), amendments to the Official Secrets Act (Ibrahim Ali, Indp-Pasir Mas) and efforts taken to ensure media freedom and the public's right to know (Mujahid Yusof Rawa, PAS-Parit Buntar).

There were two motions submitted by Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) and Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor) on the live telecast and the right to information law, respectively.

It is understood that the Pakatan Rakyat has submitted a motion to table a Private Member's Bill on the Freedom of Information, but it was not included in the order paper. Subang MP from PKR R. Sivarasa confirmed submitting the bill and he would follow up with the Speaker on the matter.

While the House was embroiled in matters of procedures right from the start, the sheer new strength of the Opposition means there will be more scrutiny of the Barisan front and backbenchers.

Notable on the first day also were the presence of two coalitions - one on gender equality and another on abolishing the Internal Security Act - in the Parliament lobby. The Prime Minister was seen walking away with a campaign folder prepared by the Joint Action Group on Gender Equality while his son-in-law was one of the BN MPs given the Abolish ISA badge.

Those who could not get into the public gallery due to the huge number of visitors to the House, caught the proceedings at the various viewing lounges in the lobby and the visitor's room. Instead of cutting back on the plan to broadcast the question time live because of the first day's events, the Information Ministry should in ensure that the public has an opportunity to catch not only the question time, but also all the debates that take place.

-CIJ-