| Let the press do its job |
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| Local Alerts | |
| Friday, 19 December 2008 | |
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The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is concerned that
journalists continue to be harassed at political parties' functions. In
the latest incident, a journalist and a photographer with a Tamil daily
claimed they were singled out and threatened by the president of the
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC).
Makkal Osai recently reported that at a 16 November dinner meeting of
MIC leaders, the president, S. Samy Vellu, decided to cut short his
speech and leave when the audience paid him little heed. On his way
out, Samy Vellu seized the camera of Makkal Osai photographer M. Samy
and demanded its journalist S. Venugar not to write about what
transpired. Online daily Malaysiakini reported that Samy Vellu had some of the pictures in the photographer's camera erased while the politician's bodyguard uttered an ominous-sounding threat to S. Venugar. Both of them lodged a police report on the incident the next day.
When contacted by CIJ, Samy Vellu's press secretary, E. Sivabalan declined to give a comment.
CIJ notes with concern the growing threats by members of political
parties - both government and opposition - against journalists, which
also infringe on the right of journalists to exercise their duty to the
public.
CIJ regrets the continued barring of reporters from Malay daily Utusan
Malaysia by the Federal Opposition pact, Pakatan Rakyat, from its
events over unethical reporting issues. While these are legitimate
concerns, the approach taken by Pakatan is hardly reflective of their
proclaimed democratic ideals.
CIJ calls upon all political parties to treat media professionals with respect. The media are the eyes and ears of the public. Any restrictions on the media is a violation of the public's right to information.
CIJ foresees that such violations of media freedom will continue with
the increasingly volatile political landscape. The problem can only be
resolved with overall reform of media, from eliminating state control
through ownership and legislation to establishing self-regulation
measures such as an independent media council as well as a plural media.
The first step that legislators can take is to initiate a Parliamentary Select Committee on media freedom.
The Centre for Independent Journalism, Malaysia (CIJ) aspires for a
society that is democratic, just and free, where all people enjoy free
media and the freedom to express, seek, and impart information.
Ends |
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