Fwd: M'kini: 'Virtual demonstration' for press freedom
Chin-Huat Wong
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/60698
'Virtual demonstration' for press freedom
Dec 8, 06 3:21pm Adjust font size:
Scare of participating in a demonstration? Now you can register your protest
against media monopolies without having to worry about being arrested or
being beaten up by baton-wielding riot police.
A press freedom group has today launched a month-long 'virtual demonstration
' against media ownership by government, political parties and media moguls.
[...]
____
----- Original Message -----
From: "Siew Eng Chuah" <
siew...@gmail.com>
To: <beritam...@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 8:20 PM
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
Women's Development Collective (WDC)
Merdekareview.com
Press Release
For Immediate Release
8 December 2006
*Demonstrate for Press Freedom!*
*Reclaim Your Freedom of Assembly and Support Press Freedom*
Can you tolerate these developments?
Four newspapers (Sarawak Tribunes, Berita Petang Sarawak, Guang Ming
Daily, Weekend Mail) have had their publication permits suspended in 2006.
UMNO-related Media Prima controls four terrestrial TVchannels (TV3,
NTV7, 8TV, TV9), two radio stations (Fly and Hot FM, two Malay dailies
(Berita Harian, Harian Metro), two English newspapers (New Straits
Times, Malay Mail) and a stable of magazines. It is about to merge with
UMNO-controlled Utusan Malaysia.
MCA controls the top English daily (The Star) and two radio stations
(Red and 988 FM). It is the strategically of Tiong Hiew King, who
controls the top four Chinese dailies (Sin Chew Daily, China Press,
Guang Ming Daily, Nanyang Siang Pao).
The Information Ministry proposes setting up a Media Council to further
control the media.
Representatives at the UMNO General Assembly complained that the
broadcasting media have been under-regulated and demanded the electronic
media to be put under the control of an UMNO Minister, rather than under
the current Gerakan Minister.
I Want to Join the Assembly Now!
These are the direct result of our repressive media-related laws and the
attitude that the laws engender. In particular, the Printing Presses and
Publications Act 1984 (PPPA) prevents the printed media from acting
independently. All newspapers are required to apply for and renew their
printing presses license and publication permit,with no guarantee of
success. The Minister has the absolute power to grant,
suspend or revoke such licenses and permits without having to be
subjected to judicial review. This creates an artificial monopoly of
power of the printed media industry, with all newspapers controlled by
the Government or -related interests.
While the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA) has provisions to
check "substantial lessening of competition" and "dominant players",
such provisions have not translated effectively to check Media Prima's
hegemonic presence in the free-to-air market.
On top of these laws, freedom of expression and information are curbed
by other repressive laws such as the Sedition Act 1948 (SA), the
Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) and the Official Secrets Act 1972
(OSA). These laws subject the media to the state's mercy, stifling
ethics, professionalism and freedom in journalism. Malaysia therefore
needs a thorough reform of media laws, including the enactment of an
Freedom of Information Act.
We need the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee, to carry
out extensive public consultation similar to that on laws related to
violence against women. The first step towards this is a multi-party
Parliamentary Caucus.
It is high time for us all to speak up and be counted in our demand for
press freedom, a right enshrined by Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal
Constitution. December is especially crucial for journalists as they
await the Internal Security Ministry's decision to approve
applications for the 2007 publication permits. Due to the pressure to
get through, self-censorship in the news room typically increases in the
year end, including even the sacking of editors, as what happened in
China Press early this year.
It is time to reclaim another constitutional right, the freedom of
peaceful assembly, enshrined under Article 10(1)(b) but curbed by
oppressive provisions in the Police Act and Penal Code.
We, the Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI), the Centre for
Independent Journalism (CIJ), Women's Development Collective (WDC) and
Merdekareview.com invite you to a unique virtual demonstration from
*DECEMBER 8, 2006 to JANUARY 7*, 2007.Unlike the conventional online
petition, an icon will be representing you to demonstrate simultaneously
in front of Parliament House, the Prime Minister's Office, Wisma PWTC
(UMNO), Wisma MCA, Media Prima and Sin Chew Media Group headquarters, via
http://www.wami528.com/campaign/virtual_assembly.php
and press for these demands:
1. Media Laws Reform - That Parliament set up a Select Committee to
review, reform and repeal all suppressive provisions in PPPA, CMA, SA,
ISA and OSA, to enact a Freedom of Information Act and introduce
anti-monopoly provisions in relevant legislations.
2. Approval of Licenses and Permits for 2007 - That the Internal
Security Ministry to approve all applications for printing press license
and publication permit in 2007 without any delay or intimidation.
3. No Political Party Ownership in mainstream Media - That UMNO and MCA
relinquish their stakes in Utusan Malaysia, The Star and Nanyang Press.
4. No Media Monopoly - That Media Prima and Tiong Hiew King to divest
their stakes in some of the media entities they own to diversify the
ownership in Malaysia's media industry.
This virtual assembly is technically sponsored by online portal
www.merdekareview.com Participation in this demonstration is free but we
would welcome financial contribution to WAMI and CIJ for our continuing
advocacy work on communication rights.
____
http://www.jeffooi.com/2006/12/malaysians_prefer_cigarettes_t.php
Malaysians prefer cigarettes to newspapers. But the 'maharaja'?
Posted by Jeff Ooi on December 8, 2006 09:00 AM
A Kadir Jasin observes that Malaysians do not place buying newspapers as a
day-to-day priority. They prefer buying cigarettes, instead. That's why,
says AKJ, the inertia effect among consumers will cause newspaper
circulation to drop every time cigarette prices go up.
http://www.kadirjasin.blogspot.com/
You can share newspapers, but not the cigarettes in between your lips.
Dari sudut kepenggunaan, akhbar dan majalah tidak disenaraikan
sebagai barangan perlu. Antara sekotak rokok dengan senaskhah
akhbar, pengguna memilih rokok daripada akhbar.
Setiap kali harga rokok naik kerana kenaikan cukai, penjualan akhbar,
khasnya akhbar Melayu, jatuh kerana pengguna mengutamakan
menghisap rokok daripada membaca akhbar. Lagipun orang jarang
berkongsi rokok tetapi mereka berkongsi akhbar.
Is there a big future for the NeSt-UM merger? AKJ asks, showing several more
scenarios, one of which is readers' exodus to Internet media and blogs.
http://www.jeffooi.com/2006/12/nestum_merger_will_go_through.php
http://kadirjasin.blogspot.com/2006/12/implikasi-penggabungan-nst-utusan.html
http://www.jeffooi.com/2006/12/bark_up_the_wrong_tree.php
However, AKJ says, the greatest impact arising from the NeST-UM merger, if
it went through, is the ultimate owner of the new, merged entity: "(Itu)
maharaja media massa Malaysia. Kuasa politik dan korporatnya "menakutkan."
(That will be the emperor of the mass media in Malaysia. His political and
corporate power will be too "intimidating".)
I wonder if the maharaja is less likely Umno, the money machine, than the
seat-warmer who controls it at the pinnacle, loaning God's gracious time.
____
Why fight Internet as an ousider?
http://www.jeffooi.com/2006/12/fighting_internet_as_an_ouside.php
Malaysia Today thrives on Umno rivalry
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/60685
Suaram: Pak Lah 'bad news' for human rights
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/60696
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Chin-Huat Wong
Department of Government
University of Essex
Colchester CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom
--
Chin-Huat Wong
Department of Government
University of Essex
Colchester CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom