Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia's ruling to ban the media from Parliament hallways does not restrict press freedom, a BN elected representative argues.
"What the speaker did was within his jurisdiction and I believe it is not to restrict the media, because designated areas are already set aside for their use," Lenggong MP Shamsul Annuar Nasarah said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
Yesterday, Pandikar issued the ruling, saying reporters were making parliamentarians uneasy with unwanted questions, as well as their alleged loitering and "picnicking" in the Dewan Rakyat lobby and hallways.
According to the ruling, reporters are only allowed to stay in the media room or media gallery, and can only wait in the areas designated for press conferences.
However the move was met with brickbats from journalist groups National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Institute of Journalists (IoJ), the Foreign Correspondents Club Malaysia (FCCM), Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) and Opposition MPs.
Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar told off Pandikar, saying that members of the media are not in Parliament hallways to picnic but to work.
Yesterday, representatives from the media met with Pandikar to discuss the matter.
A petition was also sent by media representatives to his office today, calling for the revocation of the ban.
Shamsul, who is also National Higher Education Fund Board (PTPTN) chairperson, said this after launching the fund's #Bolehbincang hashtag campaign.
The campaign aims to approach borrowers who are in default to let them know that PTPTN is open to discussion and negotiations in assisting them to reschedule or restructure their loan repayments.- Mkini
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