'Where were you during Al Jazeera's fiasco in 2020,' Fahmi asks Wan Saiful

 

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has taken Perikatan Nasional leader Wan Saiful Wan Jan to task after the latter alleged that Malaysia is witnessing a “slow murder” of media freedom-related reforms under Fahmi’s leadership.

Speaking to the press today, Fahmi questioned Wan Saiful’s silence when Al Jazeera reporters were expelled in 2020 following the news agency’s investigative report into the Malaysian government’s treatment of undocumented migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I didn’t hear him (Wan Saiful) say anything. Where was he when those reporters were taken in, investigated and subsequently their permits were withdrawn and unceremoniously expelled?

“Where was Wan Saiful when I was attacked in the Parliament for my stance in defence of the Al Jazeera reporters in 2021?” he queried during the post-cabinet press conference held at the Communications Ministry in Putrajaya today.

Yesterday, Wan Saiful said the “slow murder” of media freedom conducted by Fahmi was not unlike the latter’s predecessors.

The Tasek Gelugor MP said this over Fahmi’s assertion that the press accreditation card is not a licence to practise journalism.

Meeting with RSF

In related news, Fahmi revealed that he and his deputy Teo Nie Ching had met representatives from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) during the international press freedom watchdog’s five-day visit to Malaysia. The meeting was held before the press conference today.

Fahmi said several issues were discussed which included the code of ethics for media, media accreditation cards and a few other co-operations in the future in a bid to improve Malaysia's media freedom.

“It was a good opportunity to understand their (RSF) perspective and what they are working for.

“They see Malaysia as one of the most forward-looking in terms of media freedom,” he said.

Yesterday, RSF expressed concerns about the latest developments in Malaysia regarding the government’s imposition of a code of ethics on the media.

Its Asia-Pacific bureau director Cedric Alviani said Malaysia is at a crossroads and while there have been obvious improvements to media freedom, the idea of the government taking an active role in monitoring the media was a backward step.

“The government should not force a code of ethics written by them, while it should be written by the media council when it comes into existence,” Alviani told Malaysiakini.

The issue has been a hot topic ever since Fahmi announced in February that the government’s media code of ethics will be the sole standard used in accrediting journalists.

Fahmi said the media council - which is the planned body for media self-regulation - can have its code, but this would not be used by the Information Department in deciding whether to issue or revoke press passes.

On Wednesday, Fahmi, who is also the government spokesperson, said the press accreditation card is not a licence to practise journalism, unlike those given to medical or legal practitioners, explaining that media cards are merely a means to facilitate media access to official events.

Asked if RSF’s concerns were addressed in the meeting, Fahmi briefly asked media practitioners to refer to RSF for an official statement.