Try again, Zaid tells media - The Star

VIDEO: Zaid: Media should unite for reforms

KUALA LUMPUR: Media practitioners should unite and put forward again their proposals for reforms and more press freedom, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

Speaking at the National Press Club, the de facto law minister said just because the press had engaged the Government 10 years ago to push for media freedom, “it doesn’t mean you must stop there.”

“Try again. After all it’s part of the changing process,” he told a gathering of journalists, writers, bloggers and civil society yesterday.

Zaid was heckled during his speech and the question-and-answer session.

He said it was easy to blame the state of the media in the country on “repressive laws” but it was important for the press to be honest and look at itself and take responsibility.

“If you don’t want the Government to regulate, then you have to offer a solution. You have to have a better plan. You can’t just say ‘repeal, repeal, repeal’ without a mechanism in place.

“You want to change the law, by all means, make a representation. If you say it’s not your business, then whose business is it?” he said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/2/nation/21425577&sec=nation]

Zaid: Media should unite for reforms - TheStarOnline.tv

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim says the media should put forward again its proposals for reforms and to push for press freedom.

Walk proceeds, but not 'as planned' - Malaysiakini.tv

The walk from Dataran Merdeka to the National Press Club as a feature of The Walk for Press Freedom event this morning did take place, but instead of happening before Zaid Ibrahim's dialogue, it happened at the end of the minister's meeting with media -- mainstream, online and blogs all represented.

According to the organisers, the purpose of the walk was to send home the message on the need for press freedom, journalism ethics and accountability.

Zaid in his dialogue with the media pointed out that it was unfair to lay blame entirely on the government for the sorry state of press freedom in the country.

He argued that media practitioners should share part of the blame.

"You must ask yourself first - do you take up an unpopular issue with your newsowner?" asked Zaid in the dialogue, which was hosted by the NPC.

It was interesting to note that only Wong Chun Wai of The Star and Steven Gan of Malaysiakini were the only two notable journalists present. Editorial heads of the other mainstream papers chose to stay away, and Zaid was quick to notice their absence.

PM: Media should practice voluntary self-censorship - TheStarOnline.tv

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says no to the notion of unlimited freedom for the media. His speech was delivered by his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the opening of the Asia Media Summit 2008.

Opposition: Boycott Malay papers for fanning racial hatred - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakatan Rakyat alliance has called for an immediate boycott of Malay newspapers Utusan Malaysia and Mingguan Malaysia for what it said was unfair reporting and for allegedly fanning racial sentiments.

In a joint statement issued at a press conference in the lobby of Parliament, Opposition leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the mainstream media had shown signs of opening up since the results of the March 8 polls.

However, many publications still gave wider coverage to Barisan Nasional and its component parties, while stories on Pakatan Rakyat tended to be full of distortion and misinformation to discredit the alliance parties and their leaders, she claimed.

The Parti Keadilan Rakyat president was accompanied by alliance members DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and PAS deputy president Nasaruddin Mat Isa in reading out the joint statement.

Dr Wan Azizah said the worst were the two aforementioned newspapers, which she claimed unfairly criticised and demonised Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

She also alleged these publications were always trying to provoke narrow ethnic sentiments, "clearly with the intention of creating anger among Malays against Pakatan Rakyat component parties."

[From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/27/nation/20080527112802&sec=nation]

Govt ‘not muzzling media’ - The Star

By Hah Foong Lian

LUMUT: Police probes into several newspapers for publishing the Royal Commission of Inquiry report on the V.K. Lingam video clip before it was made public is not aimed at curbing press freedom, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said.

“The Government has the right to protect certain classified information before making a public disclosure,” he said Sunday after closing a Lumut Umno convention here, about 90km from Ipoh.

He said the commission was set up by the Government and that its findings would eventually be made public.

However, he said it would be proper for the findings to go to the Cabinet first before being made public.

He cautioned that there could be other government secrets such as matters pertaining to security and military that could have been leaked to the public.

“We don’t know where the leak is. It could be from the journalists who used their investigative intuition or the printers or the officers involved,” he said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/19/nation/21294909&sec=nation]

The Sun Front Page (7/5)

The Sun Malaysia Cover (7 May 2008) - Upload a doc

Read this doc on Scribd: The Sun Malaysia Cover (7 May 2008)

The nation’s FREE newspaper 30 sen for delivery to your doorstep MEMBER AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS (MALAYSIA) 275,000 COPIES DAILY Award winning newspaper for public service reporting and opinion writing. No. 4507 PP 2644/12/2008 (020369) Wednesday May 7, 2008 TELLING IT AS IT IS www.sun2surf.com » Dewan Rakyat proceedings pg5 SHARIL AMIN/THESUN » Kickboxer’s secret weapon pg24 Entertainment Writers charged with sedition by Tan Yi Liang newsdesk@thesundaily.com ETALING JAYA: Police yesterday slapped sedition charges on a blogger and an author, setting the stage for sensational trials later in the year. Malaysia Today webmaster Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin and businessman and writer Syed Akbar Ali pleaded not guilty to posting seditious remarks on the former’s website. Raja Petra was charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 with publishing a seditious article entitled “Let’s Send the P Altantuya Murderers to Hell” in his blog www.malaysia-today.net on April 25. He allegedly committed the offence at his house in Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh. The 58-year-old charismatic blogger caused a stir when he rejected sessions judge Nurmala Salim’s bail offer of RM5,000, choosing instead to go to Sungai Buloh prison, until the trial fixed for Oct 6-10. If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to three years and/or fined up to RM5,000. Syed Akbar was also charged under the same section in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court Raja Petra in the court holding cell. He refused to post bail and was taken to Sungai Buloh Prison; Syed Akbar (right) was freed on bail. with publishing seditious remarks in a comment posted in Malaysia Today. He allegedly committed the offence at Zeenath Begum Jewellers Sdn Bhd, Jalan Mesjid India, on June 5 last year. The comment headlined “It is easy to impress the Malays” was made in an article entitled “Malaysia’s Organised Crime Syndicate: All Roads Lead to Putrajaya” published by Raja Petra on the popular website. Raja Petra was represented by a legal team comprising Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh, K. Balaguru, Selayang MP William Leong, J. Chandra, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and Jeswinderjit Singh. His prosecution was a media event at the court, with blogger friends and Pakatan Rakyat politicians showing support. Among those who turned up were Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Lim Kit Siang and MP for Lembah Pantai Nurul Izzah Anwar. Raja Petra had hours earlier turned up at the Duta Court Complex, where police had told him to be. However, after waiting for more than an hour, he received a call on his handphone from the police telling him to go to the PJ sessions court instead. Raja Petra was vocal in condemning the sedition charge, saying that there was nothing to be worried about. “I have been asked if this sedition charge is part of a war on bloggers. We bloggers declared war on the government four years ago. So it is not the government who has declared war on us. We want to change the government,” he said, adding that he had expected to be charged. Raja Petra was detained under the Internal Security Act in 2001, and freed the same year. His departure to Sungai Buloh prison was met with shouts of “Makkal Sakthi”, “Reformasi” and “Suara Petra, Suara Malaysia.” Raja Petra’s website issued a call for donation of RM1 per person to his legal aid fund. At 6.45pm, RM24,500 had been credited to his CIMB bank account and the fund had collected an additional US$3,283.61 through a Paypal account. It has been closed since. Syed Akbar, a former banker who now runs a business with his wife on Jalan Mesjid India, was represented by Ashok Kandiah, Haris Ibrahim and Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, Bernama reported. Deputy Public Prosecutor Ishak Yusof, assisted by Hanafiah Zakaria, recommended to the court for him be allowed bail of RM5,000 but Ashok pleaded for a lower amount. Judge S. M. Komathy Suppiah set bail at RM3,000 with one surety and fixed June 10 to hear submissions by both parties on a preliminary objection raised by the defence which had claimed at the start of proceedings that the charge was groundless. Syed Akbar’s wife posted bail.

Raja Petra charged, chooses jail over bail - Malaysiakini.tv

Clasped in handcuffs like a common criminal, photographers followed Raja Petra Kamaruddin's every step as he was led in and out of the court after he refused to post bail.

Raja Petra charged with sedition - Malaysiakini.tv

Malaysia Today news portal webmaster Raja Petra Kamaruddin was today charged with sedition at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court over an article which he wrote in his website.

The article allegedly implied that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife were involved in the killing of a young Mongolian woman.

Raja Petra claimed trial to the charge. He was charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act for publishing seditious article on April 25 on Malaysia Today.

Hearing has been fixed from Oct 6 to 10 and Raja Petra was granted a bail of RM5,000, which he refused to post, deciding instead to remain in custody until the hearing date.

If found guilty, Raja Petra could be jailed for a maximum of three years and/or face a fine of up to RM5,000.

The chargesheet also highlighted nine paragraphs of the article which was titled "Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell" as seditious.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nordin Hassan is prosecuting while Raja Petra was represented by a team of six lawyers led by Karpal Singh.

Minister: I am happy with today's session - Malaysiakini.tv

Ahmad Shabery, when met by reporters at the Parliament lobby today, said his ministry would consider extending the live telecast to a much longer period after a rather smooth session this morning.

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]

BNBBC bantah siaran langsung - Utusan

KUALA LUMPUR 2 Mei - Kelab Penyokong Kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BNBBC) mahu kerajaan menghentikan siaran langsung sidang Dewan Rakyat.

Pengerusinya, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing berkata, tindakan segelintir ahli Parlimen pembangkang yang menjerit-jerit pada sidang itu kelmarin sungguh tidak wajar.

Tambahnya, beliau kecewa dengan tingkah laku pembangkang kerana langsung tidak mencerminkan sebagai seorang wakil rakyat.

''Kelmarin segelintir mereka kerap bangun sambil memegang buku Peraturan Mesyuarat Parlimen selain suka menjerit-jerit. Ia hanya mengganggu persidangan sahaja.

''Kita sungguh kecewa dengan tindakan mereka ini semua. Kita merasakan lebih baik kerajaan menghentikan sahaja siaran langsung selama setengah jam itu,'' katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

[More at http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0503&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Politik&pg=po_01.htm]

Siaran langsung Parlimen dikaji - Menteri Penerangan - Utusan

KUALA LUMPUR 30 April — Kementerian Penerangan mungkin mengkaji semula siaran langsung persidangan Dewan Rakyat berikutan sesi soal jawab lisan hari ini yang sering terganggu apabila beberapa Anggota Parlimen sentiasa mempersoalkan peraturan mesyuarat.

Menteri Penerangan Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek berkata siaran langsung selama setengah jam menerusi saluran RTM1 itu adalah percubaan sahaja dan beliau akan mendapatkan maklumat balas daripada semua pihak termasuk orang ramai sebelum membuat sebarang keputusan.

“Saya akan bincang sama ada kita masih memberi peluang kepada Anggota Parlimen untuk menggunakan sebaik-baiknya Parlimen dan siaran langsung yang diberikan,” katanya ketika ditemui pemberita di lobi Parlimen di sini hari ini.

Beliau mengulas demikian setelah beberapa anggota pembangkang sering mempersoalkan peraturan mesyuarat menyebabkan sesi soal jawab lisan selama satu setengah jam hanya sempat mendengar tiga soalan berbanding 12 hingga 15 soalan pada kebiasaannya. aAhmad Shabery berkata kementerian tidak akan menambah masa siaran langsung persidangan Dewan Rakyat.

“Saya sedar di negara-negara lain yang mengadakan siaran langsung secara penuh terutama sekali dalam negara dunia ketiga, inilah masalahnya. Anggota Parlimen tidak menumpukan perbincangan pada perkara yang penting kepada rakyat dan negara.

“Masing-masing hanya ingin menunjukkan kepentingan diri mereka, tentang peribadi mereka dan untuk tunjuk orang di luar sana tentang diri mereka, bukan negara,” katanya.

[More at http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0430&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Terkini&pg=bt_08.htm]

Utusan Melayu, Two Others Ordered To Pay RM200,000 To Former USM Lecturer - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- A former editor-in-chief of the Utusan Group, the Mingguan Malaysia newspaper and Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad were ordered by the High Court Tuesday to pay RM200,000 in damages to a former associate professor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) for publishing a defamatory article about her.

Judge Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus also odered the three defendants to pay costs to the plaintiff, Fatimah Busu @ Che Su, who was previously attached to USM's Humanities faculty.

Mohd Hishammudin said the facts presented before him favoured the plaintiff in this case.

In her suit filed on Aug 26, 1997, Fatimah had named Datuk Johan Jaafar as the first defendant, Mingguan Malaysia (second defendant )and Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad, the publisher and printer of Mingguan Malaysia, as the third defendant.

In her amended statement of claim filed on March 1, 2002, Fatimah, 67, alleged that the defendants had published a defamatory article about her in Mingguan Malaysia's edition of March 2, 1997.

She said the article had smeared her good name and tarnished her image as an academic and literary expert of 20 years, locally and abroad.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=329819]

Makkal Osai's Publication Permit Renewed - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry has approved the application by Tamil daily, Makkal Osai, for renewal of its publication permit.

The daily's general manager S.M. Periasamy said the letter of approval from the office of the Home Minister was received at 9.30am Thursday.

"After getting the letter, we went to Putrajaya and paid for the renewal of the permit," he told a news conference at his office here.

He said the newspaper company would resume operations tomorrow.

Periasamy said the Home Ministry did not give any reason or condition in renewing the newspaper's publication permit.

"But we will be more cautious in our writing from now and will not publish articles which touch on racial sensitivities," he added.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=328864]

PR MPs want to meet Syed Hamid on media - Malaysiakini.tv

At a press conference held at DAP's Damansara Service Centre, they said the government's move to loosen its publications licensing regime by allowing opposition PKR to publish its Suara Keadilan party organ and the apparent openness to bloggers are laudable.

However, the decision to revoke Tamil paper Makkal Osai's printing permit for reasons that remain unclear illustrates the need for a complete overhaul of laws pertaining to the media, they said.

Makkal Osai Wants Explanation On Non-extension Of Publishing Permit - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- Tamil newspaper Makkal Osai today sent an appeal letter to the Home Affairs Ministry (KDN)at Putrajaya after its application to extend its publishing permit was rejected yesterday.

Its general manager M. Periasamy said the letter asking the ministry to consider the appeal and explain why it was rejected was sent this afternoon.

A KDN officer told him the outcome of the appeal would be known in one week.

Periasamy said the newspaper's management promised to pay the wages of its 102 staff this month although printing had stopped.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) urged KDN to reconsider its decision to reject the application to renew the permit.

Its secretary-general G Rajasekaran said in a statement that the MTUC viewed the matter seriously as it concerned the future of the staff and their families.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=327509]

Tamil daily Makkal Osai banned - Malaysiakini.tv

The Home Ministry today rejected the renewal of Tamil daily Makkal Osai's publication permit, a move believed to be related to the widespread coverage given to the opposition.

Malaysia bans Tamil-language daily: manager - AFP

Malaysia has imposed a ban on a leading Tamil-language newspaper critical of the government, its general manager said Wednesday -- a move the opposition called a "crackdown on human rights."

S.M. Periasamy, general manager of the critical Makkal Osai daily, told AFP that he had received a letter from the home ministry -- which is in charge for internal security -- saying the paper's annual permit would not be renewed.

"It means our daily has been banned," he said.

Periasamy said no reasons were given for the government action, adding that he would immediately appeal to Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

"From tomorrow, the daily will not hit the streets. If we continue to publish, the directors could be jailed," Periasamy said.

Opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang, chairman of the Democratic Action Party, said the newspaper had been banned for giving too much coverage for the opposition since it made stunning gains in March 8 general elections.

[More at http://news.my.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1346169]

Malaysian daily, in rare outburst, slams PM party - Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Malaysian newspaper controlled by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's party launched a rare attack on party leaders on Wednesday, branding them as boors and greedy following its worst election showing.

"Enough is enough," the New Straits Times newspaper said in its front-paged editorial that also subtly ticked off former premier Mahathir Mohamad for seeking Abdullah's resignation.

Abdullah, whose United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party heads the governing coalition, should be allowed to carry on as prime minister and party leader, the daily said.

"But all the worms crawling out of the UMNO woodwork -- especially the retired and those with shelf lives past due who have found new breath in their calls for a party coup -- won't let him," it said.

For the first time in 40 years, the opposition denied the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition a two-thirds parliamentary majority and seized control of five of the country's 13 states.

Abdullah has insisted he would not step down and but would seek re-election as UMNO chief at party polls in December.

[More at http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-33067720080416]