PARLIAMENT | A Perikatan Nasional MP has slammed the government’s alleged “cruel” ways of restricting the local media industry from reporting news that is against the liking of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) claimed in the Dewan Rakyat today that his journalist friends have expressed dissatisfaction towards Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
According to Shahidan (above), the media practitioners had been reprimanded by Fahmi when they reported news that “did not conform to the Madani government’s script”.
“What happened to Fahmi, someone who fought for freedom of expression in the past?
“Previously, the prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim) had also emphasised (the importance) of a free and responsible media and he said he was open to criticisms.
“Many media friends were called by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and a few news portals have been issued warning that they will be barred.
“The previous governments and the one now also have ‘gatekeepers’, but (the ones in the past) were not as ‘cruel’,” he said when debating the Budget 2024 at committee stage for the Communications and Digital Ministry.
Conducive environment
Shahidan then reminded the government to provide a conducive environment for the media to carry out their duties without any fear or doubts.
Previously, a group of veteran media professionals had also taken issue with MCMC for blocking online news publications and questioning journalists, which they claim is being done arbitrarily.
They urged the commission to stop acting like a “Big Brother” – a term popularised in George Orwell’s novel ‘1984’ as a personification of authoritarian state power and mass surveillance.
They said it is concerning that many of the blocked content said to be “upsetting” are merely reports or opinions that are considered critical against the government. - Mkini
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