Printing Presses And Publications Act Should Be Repealed, Says Khairy - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 (Bernama) -- The Printing Presses and Publications Act should be repealed, said Rembau Member of Parliament and Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said in the last four years, there had been a certain degree of openness in publishing news but it had not been followed up by institutional reforms or in bureaucratic and legislation matters.

"I think if the government is ready to give that space, then we might as well cement it in an independent regulation, give better training to journalists and do away with bureaucratic restrictions," he said when speaking at the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Freedom Forum entitled "General Election 2008: Press Freedom" held in conjunction with the World Press Freedom Day, here, Saturday. Khairy said an independent regulatory body such as a press council could be set up instead to self-regulate the industry.

"I hope that the media can take the lead in setting up some form of independent regulatory body, perhaps in the form of a Press Complaints Commission.

"At a time when reform is the buzzword, what I really wish to suggest today is for the media to move towards being independently regulated," Khairy said, admitting that this was his personal opinion and not that of his party or the ruling government.

He said the mainstream media must also take the path of reform to remain credible but need to watch out for racial and religious sensitivities.

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