Code of ethics an attempt to stifle press freedom, LFL claims

The new code of ethics launched by the government is an attempt to control the media, claimed Lawyers for Liberty.

Its director Zaid Malek also described the Information Department’s authority in revoking media accreditation as a threat against the press.

"How can there be a free and independent media when the government gets to decide on what is ‘ethical' news reporting?” he asked in a statement.

Yesterday, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil launched the Malaysian Code of Ethics for Journalists.

The code contains eight main ethics, and will also be used as a reference for media accreditation card management.

This is the first time the ethics manual, launched in 1989 by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI), has been reviewed.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil

Fahmi said that compliance with the code will be supervised by the media council, which will be established later.

He also confirmed that the Information Department is authorised to cancel media accreditation cards as it is also the agency that issues them.

Taking the government to task, Zaid called the code of ethics an addition to existing draconian laws such as the Printing Press and Publications Act 1984, Sedition Act 1948, Official Secrets Act 1972 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

"This code of ethics is a ‘backdoor way’ of reviving the anti-fake news law, labelled as 'journalistic ethics', where the credibility of any news and its sources will be determined by the government,” he said.

Zaid then cited Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression.

Ironic of Harapan

He also reminded Pakatan Harapan ministers of their past objections to government interference in media freedom when they were in the opposition.

"We cannot ignore the greatest irony and betrayal that Harapan, whose political success can be largely attributed to the extensive media coverage and guerrilla journalism on the 1MDB scandal, now when in power, seeks to solidify government control over the press and be the arbiter of what can be reported in the news or discussed by the public online,” he said.

On that note, Zaid urged the government to expedite the establishment of the media council so that the latter could do its own self-regulation.

"Independent media is the marketplace of ideas. Through traditional platforms or otherwise, it is crucial to a healthy and functioning democracy.

"It cannot be achieved if the government makes itself the sole purveyor of truth and information,” he said.