New pamphlet: Is our press really free?
Written by the Malaysia Think Tank
Monday, 03 March 2008
Malaysia Think Tank London has announced the publication of a new pamphlet "Press Freedom in Malaysia". The main author is Datuk Azman Ujang, General Manager of Bernama and Chairman of Malaysia Press Institute.
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The publications includes comments from Sonia Randhawa, Director of the Centre for Independent Journalism; Dr Azmi Sharom, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya; and 'Abidin Muhriz, Director of Malaysia Think Tank London.
This publication is part of our bigger project to look into the state of democracy in Malaysia, particularly the strengths and weaknesses of our mechanisms for checks and balances.
Writing in this publication, Datuk Azman Ujang says that: "freedom of the press, like all freedoms, should not be unfettered". Citing the increasing press freedom in Indonesia as an example, he says: "the press in Indonesia today is so free that many sections of society are reportedly very uncomfortable with it." Datuk Azman adds: "I would like to argue that the concept of press freedom in Malaysia should remain one of freedom with responsibility. Freedom per se connotes the freedom to be irresponsible as well. In the context of a plural society like ours where many things are still perceived to be "sensitive", the responsibility to be responsible, is even more necessary."
Sonia Randhawa, Director of the Centre for Independent Journalism, says: "Malaysia does not have media freedom. The freedom online is constrained by state and non-state actors, by legislation and by the lack of it." She adds: "And it is undeniable that offline, conditions are worse." On the issue of sensitive issues, Sonia further adds: "Malaysia is not uniquely multi-ethnic, and countries with similar or greater diversity, both within and outside the region, allow greater legislative freedom. Media freedom in these countries, from the Philippines to France, is seen as an important bulwark against corruption, to protect people against their governments and to help protect cultural, linguistic and intellectual diversity."
Dr Azmi Sharom, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya, says: "It is strange that the people who are most vociferous when calling for sensitivity are the very same ones waving keris in the air as a warning to non-Malays, they are the ones who demolish a Hindu temple during the 2007 Deepavali week, and they are the ones who demand that missionary schools destroy their symbols of Christianity." He continues to say: "because the press is not free, the majority of Malaysians are denied the truth. Without the truth, one can't make intelligent choices. In a democracy, this is a ridiculous state to be in."
'Abidin Muhriz, Director of Malaysia Think Tank London, says: "It is indeed commonly accepted even in the most advanced democracies that in times of war or conflict certain curtailments of freedom are justifiable, but despite the fact that Malaysia has been at peace since the Emergency, restrictions on the press have become more intrusive since." 'Abidin further says: "to gain that elusive first-world mentality to match our oft-cited first-world physical infrastructure, we must nurture a thirst for knowledge that can only be quenched by freedom of thought elucidated by enquiring journalism and insightful commentary."
Commenting on the launch, Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Director General of Malaysia Think Tank London says: "Effective press is very important in any democracy. All our authors seem to agree on this. But they differ when it comes to the degree of freedom. If we leave aside these differences just for a while, particularly during this election period, the press must be, above all, fair to all parties. Without a more free and fair media, our democracy is ineffective. Looking at how things are going, there is a lot to be desired."