From CIJ Website

Any credibility Prime Minister Najib Razak may have had when he called for ‘embracing’ the new media and ‘promoting a free environment’ was shattered on the day he announced his cabinet line-up, say the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and the Writers for Media Independence (WAMI) today.

Only six days into his primeministership, an online media, merdekareview.com has been barred from covering the announcement of Najib’s new Cabinet line-up. It has recently published commentaries criticizing pro-Najib stories in the best-selling Chinese press, Sin Chew Jit Poh.

CIJ and WAMI warn that the PM’s move in centralising the governance of broadcast and Internet media – under the purview of the Ministry of Information, Communication, Art and Literature might simply mean more news censorship and tighter control for those media.

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From CIJ Website

CIJ, WAMI: Time for a Road Map on Media Freedom for Democracy

3 May 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: The time is right for reforms in media freedom and freedom of expression as the Malaysian public grows more discerning and demanding for a freer and more democratic society.

In commemorating World Press Freedom Day 2009, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) call on Prime Minister Najib Razak to reveal a road map on media freedom for democracy, which entails immediate halt to any form of censorship of news, views and opinions, and to suspend the use of the licensing provision in the Printing Presses and Publications Act that gives the government arbitrary powers in deciding the terms for publications.

CIJ and WAMI also would like to remind the State Governments that it is high time reforms were put in place involving media and access to information laws.

Despite the strong message delivered by voters in the 12th general elections, rejecting censorship and control of media and information, and delivering a severe blow to the Federal Government under Barisan Nasional (BN), the latter has not taken any concrete steps to demonstrate its openness to change.

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From The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Headlines are being scrutinised. Captions are being commented on. The space for alternative views is shrinking.

Instructions are flowing from Putrajaya, not necessarily from the Prime Minister but from individuals who claim they are empowered to speak on his behalf.

The nett result: the mood in newsrooms across the country has become more cautious and editors more wary of pushing the envelope since Datuk Seri Najib Razak became the chief executive of Malaysia.

And the sentiment in the profession is that the controls are going to get tighter now that Najib has installed Datuk Johan Jaafar as the head of the Media Prima empire and has endorsed the return of Datuk Ahmad A. Talib as the editorial adviser to the New Straits Times Press stable of newspapers.

Both individuals were senior members of the media establishment during the Mahathir era, a period when the Opposition had to be content with footnote coverage and the public was served with daily dose of government speak.

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Pincanglah demokrasi sekiranya salah satu dari sendi utamanya iaitu kebebasan akhbar dan hak untuk bersuara di cengkam atau dikawal oleh penguasa. Lebih mengecewakan kita adanya sesegelintir dari pengusaha dan pengarang akhbar menggadaikan prinsip demi keuntungan peribadi lalu membiarkan diri dikawal pemerintah.

Namun kita menyaksikan di mana-mana di dunia ini pasti ada mereka yang berani untuk tetap teguh melawan segala bentuk halangan ciptaan pemerintah bagi menyekat hak untuk menyalurkan maklumat tepat kepada rakyat. Kepada editor, jurugambar, wartawan serta komuniti akhbar pemberani ini kita ucapkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan dan salut kerana jasa juga pengorbanan mereka.

Hari ini Pakatan Rakyat ingin mengulangi iltizam kami terhadap kebebasan akhbar, kebebasan bersuara dan menyalurkan maklumat yang tepat kepada rakyat.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

Jadual semalam padat dengan acara yang disusun oleh Bahagian Permatang Pauh. Setibanya di Yayasan Aman saya terus mempengerusikan majlis dialog dengan ahli jawatankuasa, wanita dan angkatan muda Keadilan sekaligus merasmikan majlis penutupan kursus pilihanraya DUN Penanti.

Kemudiannya saya menunaikan solat maghrib di masjid kuala mengkuang. Kesempatan yang diberi jemaah untuk menyampaikan tazkirah, saya himbau kupasan ulama seumpama almarhum syeikh muhammad al ghazali dan ulama muktabar lainnya berhubung pengertian “Deen” dengan pembentukan akhlak peribadi yang kemudiannya memberi kesan kepada urusan kenegaraan. Saya tegaskan pemahaman tepat sekaligus amalan yang berlandaskan kemantapan ilmu pasti membuahkan natijah baik buat masyarakat.

Solat isyak pula saya tunaikan bersama jemaah masjid tuan abdullah di tanah liat. Saya ungkapkan kembali intipati tazkirah sebelumnya manakala penekanan diberi akan pentingnya peranan ilmu di dalam membezakan di antara yang hak dan yang batil. Kedangkalan dan kekeliruan berleluasa lalu meresap di kalangan mereka yang menolak peranan deen ini akhirnya mengikis sikap kemanusiaan serta menyebabkan kezaliman berlaku.

Penelitian khusus perkataan deen itu mengandungi beberapa makna seperti adab, penyerahan, rasa berhutang dan pembinaan tamadun. Oleh itu menjadi keutamaan buat umat meluruskan kembali pemahaman perihal pesan yang terkandung dalam perkataan deen ini apatah lagi sebagaimana yang pernah di nukilkan oleh syed naguib al attas betapa risalah deen yang disampaikan secara bil hikmah inilah yang merubah pandang dunia atau welstanchaaung umat melayu.

Seusainya majlis tazkirah, acara berikutnya ialah majlis pembukaan pusat khidmat sungai semambu dan berakhir dengan ceramah di pentas AMK di Yayasan Aman Penanti.

ANWAR IBRAHIM