Speaker issues 'yellow card' to media at Parliament lobby

Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof. -Bernama filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: Media personnel covering Parliament were given a "yellow card" by newly minted Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof over their "door-stopping" antics at the lobby.

"My deputies and I are optimistic in allowing the media into the Parliament lobby.

"However, if there is a lack of cooperation from the media, we will be forced to revoke this change one of these days," he said in his speech when hosting a gathering of editors and media representatives here Tuesday (July 24).

Mohamad Ariff threatened that this would happen if media personnel continued to randomly "door-stop" lawmakers, ministers and their deputies at undesignated areas in the lobby – that is, to corner these leaders into answering queries.

.Earlier, Mohamad Ariff said that the ruling by his predecessor Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to ban the media from the Parliament lobby was temporarily lifted pending a study on the matter.

He said that media personnel were free to interview or question lawmakers, ministers and their deputies, but only at designated areas in the lobby.

The media also have access to the press conference room next to the MPs' lounge and the media centre.

Mohamad Ariff said that there should be decorum outside the august House, particularly when the lobby was frequented by dignitaries, officers and members of the public.

"The reality is that the media must be responsible and have a role to play in ensuring that the image of Parliament is respected by foreign nations," he said.

He added that no nation in the world allows media personnel to loiter and sit around freely at their respective Parliament lobbies.

Mohamad Ariff also reminded media personnel to abide by Parliament's dress code when covering proceedings. -Star