Today, we observed two conflicting statements/stands made by BN government.
Firstly, the Home Affairs Ministry allowed Harakah to publish bi-weekly, and secondly the Parliament administration appears to be going the opposite direction when it suddenly tightened its control over media. Now only a maximum of five from each media are permitted to cover Parliament sitting. Today they even barred journalists from coming close to the entrance into Dewan Rakyat or the lobby. A “barricade” was put up where the journalists were only allowed to move around at one corner, and they can only take pix and interview us with a barricade between us.
The DAP MPs protested inside the Dewan Rakyat. We wanted to see the speaker in the morning but Pandikar Amin was not in the office. When I came back to the lobby after lunch, I then found that the BN Backbenchers have “opened up’ the barricade.
This incident reflect the contradiction of the issue no:1 and no:2. What is the message of the government? On one hand they want to show that they want to open up and give more space to the media by allowing Harakah to be published bi-weekly, on the other hand, they tried to limit media freedom in the Parliament house. Doesn’t this show that the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing? 🙂
| Gov’t allows Harakah to publish bi-weekly |
| Jun 24, 08 12:04pm |
| The government has reverted
Harakah, the organ of Islamic party PAS, to a bi-weekly publication, according to its chief editor Ahmad Lutfi Othman today.
Lutfi told Malaysiakini that the newspaper received a letter yesterday from the Home Ministry that the government has approved a request from Harakah to be restored as a bi-weekly publication. Harakah saw its circulation of over 300,000 at the height of the reformasi movement slashed by half after it was forced to become a fortnightly, mainly because of its inability to respond to breaking news. |
Harakah was forced to cut its frequency from twice a week to twice monthly in February 2000 – three months after then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Barisan Nasional received a mauling in the 1999 general election.| Media boycott over Parliament access |
| Beh Lih Yi | Jun 24, 08 10:52am |
| More than 100 journalists covering the ongoing Parliament sitting are staging a boycott after the Parliament administration restricted media access to the lobby and barricaded the area.
The journalists were outraged and stunned by the latest ruling which has resulted in the entire lobby being barricaded, apparently on security grounds. This move has restricted the journalists from moving around freely in the lobby or approaching MPs directly. This is the first time that Parliament has enforced such a ruling. No clear explanation has been given to media representatives so far about the ruling. “There will be fewer stories’
This was in light of the apparent change in the political landscape as well as a result of the presence of almost all ministers or deputies in the House. English-language daily Star assistant news editor Lee Yuk Peng criticised the ruling, saying that the journalists should be able to move freely in Parliament to perform their duties. “We should be the last group to be linked with security concerns,” Lee, who started covering the Parliament beat in 1997. “(The impact is) there will be fewer stories. It takes two hands to clap – many ministers can’t wait to talk to the journalists or give them stories,” she added.Deputy speaker non-committal Opposition MP Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) also protested in the House, saying that the ruling is tantamount to a clampdown on press freedom. He urged the Parliament administrators to withdraw the rule.
“There was discussion with the speaker and deputy speaker during the last session on how to control the situation at the lobby. “The decision has been made and I will have to discuss this with the speaker before we can announce any new decision (on the review of the ruling) tomorrow or the day after,” said Wan Junaidi, who added that he respects the journalistic profession. The protest by the journalists is set to affect a press conference called by Pakatan Rakyat MPs from Kuala Lumpur to discuss the Draft KL City Plan. The press conference is to be held in the Parliament lobby at 12.45pm today. Similiarly, a press conference by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will also be affected. Najib will chair two meetings in the Parliament building today – one of which is the Umno management committee meeting. He is expected to call a press conference in the afternoon. |
Journalists from all print, online and electronic media decided to only cover the proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat and boycott all the press conferences or events held outside of the chamber.
After the March 8 election where the ruling BN suffered its worst outing, an average of 100 journalists have been covering parliamentary proceedings on each day of its sitting.
Deputy Speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who was presiding over the sitting this morning, was non-committal, saying that he would have to first discuss the matter with speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia and the other deputy speaker, Ronald Kiandee.
Things are getting more and more stupid in Bolehland!
The barricade removed by BBC… but the BBC diam diam in the house after that… according to MK… =/
Anyway… lame excuses and argue from the speaker… 🙁
Upon the limitation of media freedom, personally felt disappointed; most shameful was ~so many current admin personnel might be awarded ‘the worst movie actor & actress’!
Why?
(1)According to MP Lim Kit Siang’s blog, as given notice for emergency debate in Parliament yesterday (24/6/2008) on Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s allegations on the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case;
So coincidence, upon certain circumstances ‘pulled back’ and might even worst ‘tried, planned & prepared’ to limit media freedom? Why, is there any hidden 10000000tans stone?
Well… well…
(2)appearance of current administrator, tried to protest the act of media freedom limitation, to prove so sincere they are!
Doubts, should they only react like ‘hero’ in front of camera? Why don’t they ‘stand up & speak up : support & agree’ while our honour MP Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) and other Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs protested in the house?
Upon the above incidents (scenarios), I’d convinced myself, how professional to our current administration!
–> Again, I can fortune-telling, predict and foresee, possibly Political BrainWash Program might starting soon by current admin.
MP & YB Teresa Kok, help us (age of 12-17, 18-35 teenagers), is there any solution or prevention to counter attack?
TQ.
Warmest regards.
MP Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan)
Apology upon my mistake ~forgot to delete/remove ‘MP Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) in last line/sentence of my comment.
I’m sorry, MP Lim Guan Eng & MP Teresa Kok.
TQ.
Warmest regards.
YB,
When a person keep a dog, provide he/she is extremely mean to men’s best friend, rarely would the lovely dog would turn against its master. Not even a mongrel can be swayed easily.
However, I caught Star splashing an angry response to the post. Chinese papers, who traditionally have more between the thighs, launch some civilize salvo. “Respect the press and the press respect you.” Enough reason for the Home Minister to suspend their publication? NST is it old self, splashing Najib’s slow denial as the front page” instead of dressing its own wounds first like the rest of the papers.
Interesting time this one. The ban comes in the wake of Sabah incident and RPK’s unproven and explosive SD. Whether the SD is false or otherwise, this incomprehensible action by the Speakers is a PR disaster.
I have written in YB Teo’s blog that the Speakers are first and foremost Wakil Rakyat. Without the status, they could just be trespasser of tourist to the Parliament. If this ban is their idea, they have demonstrated that they are failures of titanic proportion in their role. Even Nazri, the one man who is capable to “point to deer and claim it is a horse” (Chinese proverb) distance himself from this
wally.
I rest my case. Tell Badawi to go to mamak stall, stand on a box and announce his policies the good old fashion way like Abraham Lincoln’s time.
Sorry, too many spelling error, re-post.
When a person keep a dog, unless he/she is extremely mean to man’s best friend, rarely would the lovely dog would turn against its master. Not even a mongrel can be swayed easily.
However, I caught Star splashing an angry response to the ban. Chinese papers, who traditionally have more between the thighs, launch some civilized salvo. “Respect the press and the press respect you.” Enough reasons for the Home Minister to suspend their publication? NST is it old self, splashing Najib’s slow denial on the front page” instead of dressing its own wounds first like the rest of the papers.
Interesting time this one. The ban comes in the wake of the Sabah episode and RPK’s unproven and explosive SD. Whether the SD is false or otherwise, this incomprehensible action by the Speakers is a PR disaster. I stand to be corrected but I read in the papers that the Speakers invoked this ban.
I have written in YB Teo’s blog that the Speakers are first and foremost Wakil Rakyat. Without the status, they could just be trespasser of tourist to the Parliament. If this ban is their idea, they have demonstrated that they are failures of titanic proportion in their role. Even Nazri, the one man who is capable to “point to deer and claim it is a horse” (Chinese proverb) distance himself from this wally.
I rest my case. Tell Badawi to go to mamak stall, stand on a box and announce his policies the good old fashion way like Abraham Lincoln’s time.
Dear YB Teresa,
Sorry but I have to post my comments here, since I dont know where else to pass my messages to the reporters, journalist, media people….
Although my heart and mind is always behind every journalist who have to do their job, in order to find food on their dining table, I am a little disappointed in their action.
Downing their camera is admirable, but that has always been a standard action of the journalist when faces with unfair treatment.
I WANT THEM TO DO MORE and teach the BN government a lesson.
All they had to do was to take a UNITED action, come to a complete agreement amongst themselves and GO HOME FOR A WEEK. Even if they work for MSM own by BN themselves.
Surely they can always explain to their chief editor via photo proofs that they had been banned from the parliament building, so DONT EVEN REPORT ANYTHING for a week, let their dogs the RTM guys do that.
Only then can they get some respect through a unionised action….
Hope this can be forwarded in some ways to the journalist.
I was a part time reporter long time ago, also was an ex- president of a union I cant mention here.
thanks