Opposition: Free media vital for democracy to flourish - The Star

PETALING JAYA: The enactment of a Freedom of Information Act and the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) is necessary for democracy to flourish in Malaysia, Opposition leaders said.

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

Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said having a free media was important and that it was the Government’s muzzling of the mainstream media during the last general election that led to the flourishing 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 failed to understand what the masses want,” Dr Wan Azizah said.

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

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/4/nation/21148194&sec=nation]