The media as peacemaker?

For the 2010 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) celebration, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is aiming to do something different. While work on legal reform and raising awareness of the continued threats against journalists and the media continue, we thought that in view of the rise of ethno-nationalist groups and violent actions by unknown individuals - and even clearly identifiable ones such as the incendiary cow-head protesters in Shah Alam last September - there is a dire need for media to ensure that while doing their job of reporting such events and sources, they do it in a way that is not inciting further ill-will.

Peace journalism is what it's called.

So, come to our forum and be part of the search for solutions at the most happenin' and user-friendly gallery in the city - the Annexe Central Market - this 8 May (Sat). It starts at 10.30am in total understanding of the late birds.

Hear from our panel of experts: Insany Syahbarwati, head of the Maluku Media Center, Ambon, Indonesia; Jacqueline Ann Surin, editor of The Nut Graph (www.thenutgraph.com; Prangtip Daoreung, Asian Public Intellectuals Fellow and Dr Mustafa K Anuar, who teaches communication studies in a local university.

This event is being produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this event are the sole responsibility of Centre for Independent Journalism and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

Supported in part by a grant from Foundation Open Society Institute (Zug).

Details.

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Meanwhile, here's a song to reflect on:

Hunting for Witches - Bloc Party

I am sitting
On the roof of my house
With a shotgun
And a six pack of beer, six pack of beer, six pack of beer.

The newscaster says the enemy's among us
As bombs explode on the 30 bus,
Kill your middle-class indecision,
Now is not the time for liberal thought,

So I go hunting for witches
I go hunting for witches
Heads are going to roll
I go hunting for...

90s, optimistic as a teen.
Now it's terror
Airplanes crash into towers, into towers, crash into towers.

The Daily Mail says the enemy's among us,
Taking our women and taking our jobs,
All reasonable thought is being drowned out
By the non-stop baying, baying, baying for blood

So I go hunting for witches
I go hunting for witches
Heads are going to roll
I go hunting for...

I was an ordinary man with ordinary desire
I watched TV it informed me
I was an ordinary man with ordinary desire
There must be accountability

Disparate and misinformed
Fear will keep us all in place

So I go hunting for witches
I go hunting for witches
Heads are going to roll
I go hunting for...

I was an ordinary man with ordinary desires
I watched TV and it formed me
I was an ordinary man with ordinary desires
There must be accountability

Disparate and misinformed
Fear will keep us all in place

CIJ presents memo to Suhakam

CIJ executive director Gayathry Venkiteswaran presents some of the developments that have hampered a free media in the country. A memorandum was presented to SUHAKAM commissioner Dr. Denison Jayasooria.



Malaysiakini editor (Bahasa Malaysia section) Fathi Aris Omar talks about the challenges faced by reporters.


Another video here.

Promises Not Realities, Cautions Media Panel

by Zac Hill

The Annexe Gallery at Central Market, along with the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), hosted a forum on 10 May 2009 discussing the contemporary Malaysian media climate and its potential for greater openness. Entitled “Media Under Najib: Hope or Disappointment?” the forum chronicled emerging trends across both traditional and new media in the weeks since Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s ascension to power.

“All this talk about reform is just that: cheap talk,” said panelist Zaharom Nain, a lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia and author of more than 80 publications dealing with the political economy of the media. His sentiments were echoed, over the course of the forum, by the other panellists, including the outspoken 1BLACKMalaysia progenitor Wong Chin Huat, and former Centre for Public Policy Studies Director Tricia Yeoh, now with the Selangor Menteri Besar’s office.

“Look what Barisan Nasional has given us,” continued Zaharom. “Promises, promises, promises; half-baked assurances and contradictions. As Chin Huat and others would testify, it has not been promising so far. The actors may have changed, but the overall rotten structures of an anti-democratic regime still remain.”

Zaharom’s allusion to his fellow speaker resonated greatly with a crowd largely sympathetic with Wong’s recent tribulations. Wong was arrested on 5 May following a police report that was later revealed to have been lodged by Jais Abdul Karim from Permuafakatan Warisan Islam (Pewaris) on allegations of ‘sedition’. Earlier on the same day, Wong had urged Malaysians to wear black on 7 May to protest what he described as “the ongoing Perak coup” by the Barisan Nasional government. He was eventually released 60 hours before his scheduled appointment to speak at CIJ's forum.

For Wong, his recent detention appeared merely the last straw in a legacy of oppression and constraint. He pulled no punches, asserting that without dissent and dialogue, legitimate elections could never be possible. “If there’s any Special Branch here, take this in,” he challenged. “Without elections, the government would be equivalent to the Mafia. They control territory, they extract money, they do not allow anyone living in their territory to refuse to pay money. The only thing distinguishing one from the other is that, with the government, the people have the right to control who controls them.”

When pressed about the legitimacy of the actions that put him behind bars, Wong exhibited uncompromising resolve. “How do you define ‘disaffection'?” he asked, referring to the statutory terminology of the Sedition Act. “The definition is so vague, you can put anyone behind bars! I have to thank the police for making the point so clear. I didn’t ask anyone to do anything! I didn't ask anyone to shout any slogan. I didn't even ask anyone to go to Ipoh...I merely asked people to wear black to show their unhappiness.”

For Yeoh, the government’s purported willingness to change simply didn’t line up with the facts. “You have [Information Minister] Rais Yatim saying ‘a diplomatic approach is needed in dealing with private media corps and bloggers,’ while in the same breath saying ‘we have to take legal action against hardcore perpetrators,’ whatever that means. I’m not sure that this reflects the attitude of an administration committed to reform,” she said, to laughter and wide applause.

The discussion centered on the notion of legal and institutional change as a means to media reform, calling for the repeal of laws like the Internal Security Act, the Official Secrets Act, the Sedition Act, and the Printing Presses and Publications Act in order to pave the way for change. It also emphasised the importance of a Parliamentary Select Committee on Media Freedom to objectively evaluate the contemporary media climate in an open consultative process that will include participation from all stakeholders. But the recommendations weren’t exclusively top-down in nature.

“We need to start looking at options like community newspapers, community radio,” said Yeoh. “Radio is very powerful at the kampung level. And journalists have a very powerful role to play—try not to self-censor too much, to push the line as far as you can. Use the words of reform that are being supposedly espoused by Najib and his gang to challenge your editors.” Yeoh acknowledged, however, that many of these steps were difficult or impossible without corresponding legislative action.

The panellists appeared surprisingly optimistic, however, in spite of these obstacles. For forum moderator Vanitha Nadaraj, this optimism was born out of recognition of common goals.

“We all have one dream: To make Malaysia a better place,” she concluded.

Wong Chin Huat will be speaking this Sunday

Spokeperson for the '1BlackMalaysia' campaign, Wong Chin Huat, will speak as scheduled at the forum 'Media Under Najib: Hope or Disappointment'.

Wong was freed at 3:40pm on 8 May after being remanded since 5 May under the Sedition Act.

Join Wong, other speakers Zaharom Nain and Tricia Yeoh, moderator Vanitha Nadaraj and other guests this Sunday!

Newsflash: Chin Huat Released

Detained political analyst and social activist, Wong Chin Huat, was just released from police custody at 3.40 pm on police bail. He maintains that his arrest is an attempt at intimidation and a warning against those who had planned to gather in Ipoh yesterday to protest against the convening of the State Assembly from wearing black and showing dissent.

The police apparently took action after a report by the non-governmental organisation PEWARIS.

Chin Huat has been asked to report back to the police on 22 May, 2009 and both his computer as well as his USB flash drive had been confiscated.

Chin Huat is also due to speak during this Sunday's public forum: Media Under Najib: Hope or Disappointment. We will keep you updated on any latest developments.

CIJ, WAMI: Time for a Road Map on Media Freedom for Democracy

Press Release
3 May 2009

Malaysians Demand for Media Freedom on World Press Freedom Day 2009
CIJ, WAMI: Time for a Road Map on Media Freedom for Democracy

3 May 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: The time is right for reforms in media freedom and freedom of expression as the Malaysian public grows more discerning and demanding for a freer and more democratic society.

In commemorating World Press Freedom Day 2009, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) call on Prime Minister Najib Razak to reveal a road map on media freedom for democracy, which entails immediate halt to any form of censorship of news, views and opinions, and to suspend the use of the licensing provision in the Printing Presses and Publications Act that gives the government arbitrary powers in deciding the terms for publications.

CIJ and WAMI also would like to remind the State Governments that it is high time reforms were put in place involving media and access to information laws.

Despite the strong message delivered by voters in the 12th general elections, rejecting censorship and control of media and information, and delivering a severe blow to the Federal Government under Barisan Nasional (BN), the latter has not taken any concrete steps to demonstrate its openness to change.

The latest restriction on Internet media by the BN-led Perak state from its Legislative Assembly scheduled on the May 7, is grossly inconsistent with the “1Malaysia” concept propounded by the new Prime Minister. We note worryingly that despite the rhetoric of openness in “1Malaysia”, the new PM administration is reversing the former PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's recognition to professionally-run Internet media by regularly restricting them from covering official functions.

In addition, the Federal government is implicitly threatening bloggers and online commentators with the Communication and Multimedia Act (CMA) and the Internal Security Act (ISA). This is evident as the new Information Minister Rais Yatim expounds "diplomatic" engagement with bloggers, his Ministry actively take action against those who criticized the Perak Royal House online using the CMA. The ISA was also memorably invoked in September 2008 against prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Selangor state Exco Teresa Kok and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng. Raja Petra is now in hiding, fearing a third detention under the law.

“We expect to see a road map presented to the public by August that contains plans and timelines for what will be done to reform the areas of media freedom and access to information. We want to know when and not if, the government will begin its review of the laws that affect freedom of expression," said CIJ Executive Director V. Gayathry.

“Following this, by November, the government should table a bill to amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act to provide for a one-time registration for media outlets and to reinstate/include judicial review of the Minister's decision with regard to issuance of permit. At the same time Najib should first set up a Parliamentary Select Committee to review media laws," said Wong Chin Huat.

Ends

Issued by
Gayathry Venkiteswaran
Executive Director, CIJ

and

Wong Chin Huat
Chairman, WAMI

For more information please contact Wai Fong at 03 4023 0772

ROAD MAP ON MEDIA FREEDOM FOR DEMOCRACY : A PEOPLE'S DEMAND

DEADLINE: IMMEDIATE
No Censorship
Suspend the use of the licensing provision in the Printing Presses and Publications Act on newspapers and publications to demonstrate goodwill on the part of the ruling government to lessen its control and censorship of information and expression through the media. In addition, the government should commit to no censorship of news, views and opinions in public fora, the broadcast media and online spaces.

3 Months
DEADLINE: AUGUST 2009
Road Map on Reforms Presented to the Public
The Federal and State Governments should present their road map on reforms proposed in the area of promoting media freedom and citizen's access to public information, to the public. Talks of reforms are pointless if they are not supported by concrete steps and measures that the public can assess and measure the political parties against.

6 Months

DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 2009
Amendments to the PPPA
Efforts are put in place to table amendments to the PPPA by the end of the year to provide that (a) all media outlets only need to register with the Ministry without printing license or annual publishing permit; (b) and the judicial review is reinstated.

Setting up of a Parliamentary Select Committee on Media Law Reform
An InterParliamentary Select Committee on Media Law Reform should be set up within the next six months that will monitor the state of freedom of information and expression in Malaysia and initiative a public participation process to review the laws that have a negativ impact on media freedom and freedom of expression. Among others, the Select Committee can begin by reviewing laws such as the PPPA, the Official Secrets Act, Sedition Act and the Internal Security Act for repeal, amend laws such as the Communications and Multimedia Act, and enacting a Right to Information Law.

1 – 2 years

DEADLINE: MAY 2011
Enactment of a Right to Information Law
Globally, over 80 countries have adopted the right to information law and Malaysia is not among the trend setters. This law is imperative for any efforts to have good and clean governments and where the citizens can enjoy full acceess to public information. The enactment of the right to information law should also involve a thorough amendment or complete repeal of the Official Secrets Act.

CIJ is distributing WPFD Memorabila!

On May 3, which is the globally designated World Press Freedom Day, CIJ will be handling out memorabila for press freedom lovers to commemorate and spread the message of press freedom and free expression. There will window stickers, posters and leaflets up for grabs! Catch us at:

Date: 3 May 2009
Venue: Central Market, Kuala Lumpur
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Come and take as many "freedom memorabilas" as you want and help spread the word!

Media Under Najib Forum: Speaker Profile (Wong Chin Huat)

Wong Chin Huat

Wong Chin Huat is the Chair of the Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI), an advocacy group for free and competitive media environment formed after the political takeover of Nanyang Press by the ruling Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) in 2001.

He is also a founding member of Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI@Parliament), a group of social activists working with lawmakers on legal, institutional and policy changes including Freedom of Information Act at both federal and state levels.

A political scientist by training and a journalism lecturer by trade, Wong Chin Huat is based in Monash University Sunway Campus. He is completing his PhD on electoral system and party system in West Malaysia at University of Essex, UK.

Media Under Najib Forum: Speaker Profile (Tricia Yeoh)

Tricia Yeoh

Tricia Yeoh is attached to the Selangor Menteri Besar’s Office as Research Officer. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business and Commerce in Econometrics from Monash University and a Masters in Research Methodology from the University of Warwick.

She was previously the Director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies, at which she now sits as Member of its Advisory Panel. At the CPPS she was conducting socioeconomic research and analysis on a range of public policy issues, including national unity, young Malaysians, budget transparency and development. .

She was also Asia-Pacific Regional Co-ordinator, acting as consultant to the Revenue Watch Institute, an international non-governmental organization based in New York, working on transparency of the extractive industry together with civil society organizations and governments in Southeast Asia.

Her current work involves working on research and coordination of policies to be implemented for the State of Selangor. This includes social and economic policies that require input and engagements with the private sector, academia, civil society and the media. Her opinions as political analyst have been quoted by a range of international media, including Al-Jazeera, Bloomberg, the International Herald Tribune, the New York Times, The Economist magazine, and local media including the Sun, The New Straits Times and the Star.

She has represented Malaysia in a number of international conferences, presenting papers on the issues of economics, human rights, transparency and accountability amongst others. Former columnist at The Nut Graph, she attempts to maintain a blog, but otherwise writes opinion pieces in local media when time permits.

She is member of the National Human Rights Society, HAKAM, and is founding member of Oriental Hearts and Mind Study Institute (OHMSI) and Revolution of Hope (ROH), the latter two organizations as bodies bridging the divide between intellectual public policy and Christian theology for the sake of national unity. Her ultimate objective is to build a mature and developed Malaysian society.

Media Under Najib Forum: Speaker Profile (Zaharom Nain)

Zaharom Nain

Zaharom Nain is an associate professor of communications at the Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia. He has been teaching at USM for more than two decades, after receiving his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Communication Studies from Coventry University and the University of Leicester, England.

He is co-editor of two books, Communication and Development: The Freirean Connection (Hampton: 2001) and Who Owns The Media: Global Trends and Local Resistances (Zed/Southbound: 2004) and has authored more than 80 book chapters, journal articles and conference papers.

He has been a consultant to the Geneva-based United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Malaysian agencies such as PETRONAS and the Malaysian Institute for Economic Research (MIER).

He was awarded a Fulbright Professorship to lecture in the University of California, San Diego (1998-1999), a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship to conduct research at Sophia University, Tokyo (1995) and was a Visiting Fellow in 2004 at Simon Fraser University (Canada), the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne (USA) and the University of Utah (USA).

His background and research interests are in the sociology of communications and the political economy of the media. He is presently co-editing a volume of critical studies on the media and popular culture in Asia and conducting research on the media and Malaysia-Singapore relationships. This October, he will again be in the United States as a Fulbright Specialist, principally in the state of Vermont, speaking in a variety of settings.

He believes he writes better than he speaks, having contributed columns to Malaysian newspapers such as The Star and the New Straits Times, and alternative media, such as Malaysiakini, The Nutgraph and Aliran Monthly.

He is a member of Aliran and is privileged to have served on Aliran’s exco and editorial board for a couple of terms.

WPFD2009- Public Forum on "Media Under Najib: Hope or Disappointment"

Dear friends,

World Press Freedom Day is back again! The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is celebrating it on this 10 May. In the last 6 years, CIJ has commemorated this day, which falls on 3 May, through public activities that included exhibitions, talks and concerts. This year, we will be organising a public forum at the Annexe, Central Market on 10 May, on the topic "Media Under Najib: Hope or Disappointment".

The panel speakers are:

• Associate Professor of Communication Studies at the Science University of Malaysia, Mr. Zaharom Nain
• Political analyst and Chairman of Writers Alliance for Media Independence, Mr. Wong Chin Huat
• Special Assistant to Selangor state Chief Minister, Ms Tricia Yeoh

The forum will touch on, among others:

1. Exploring the prime minister's options viz-a-viz clamours for reform on one side and calls for entrenchment of the status quo on another
2. Current and future trends that may affect or involve the media and free expression.
3. What Malaysia needs badly in terms of reform on press freedom and expression and whether Najib can deliver them

Date: 10 May 2009 (Sunday)
Time: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Venue: Annex Gallery, Central Market

Join us for a lively discussion! See you there!

For more information please call Wai Fong at 03 4023 0772 or email waifong@cijmalaysia.org

World Press Freedom Day Photos

After an incredibly successful World Press Freedom Day Weekend, the photos have arrived! If you weren't able to make it out to the event, or if you were there and want some photos to help remember it by, we highly recommend taking a look at our flickr account for the rest of our photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26501513@N03/sets/.

One of the most successful elements of the event was the ability for visitors to openly participate in the creating of their own news. "The New Era" of News invited participants to record their own versions of articles already covered in the mainstream media, that may not have been properly covered. The display also provided a forum for people to give their feedback on what they think of the current media, and what they would want from their media outlets in an ideal world. The issues that came up most consistently were wanting to know that stories are founded entirely on truth, wanting to see a separation between the government and the media, and of particular importance was ensuring that minority issues are being fairly represented.

The display seen hanging in the middle of the room is an illustration of the media-bias during the election period. One side of the display illustrates the percentage of each paper's stories that were slanted to be pro-BN, while the opposite side demonstrates the same papers' pro-Opposition coverage. This piece of installation art invoked a lot of thought in people who had not realized what a hand the media has to play in politics, and what a discrepancy there is between the pro-BN and pro-Opposition representation.

The event was a definite success, and we look forward to hearing any feedback you may have, and any thoughts you might have for what we should start thinking about for next year!

Roadmap to Media Freedom successfully defined!

The two-day World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) celebration organized by CIJ concluded successfully with a remarkable increase in participation and interest in media freedom issues among the public. They came and asked questions, engaged with our fellow panelists during the two rounds of talks, filled up all slots on the signature sheets for the WPFD petition, spoke up on what they aspired for the media in their messages on the wall and in the "annoymous" box, and grabbed our books and leaflets.

We were heartfelt at the interest and presence of the public at both talks - Towards Ethical Media on May 3 and Towards Media Law Reform on May 4, which attracted on average 100 people each session. Dialogues between stakeholders on media freedom - the main objective for the talk- was achieved. In the first talk, media practitioners explained the conflict between newsroom and the state in upholding ethics, but all is not lost as an editor's personal commitment to ethical practices can still make a difference. In the second talk, the public got a better understanding on what a freedom of information bill and the parliamentary caucus on media freedom, which the Pakatan MPs will initiate- can do to media freedom and what should the people's expectation be for this two instruments.

We thank you for your support and participation and we definitely hope to see all of you again next year. Watch out for this blog for pictures of the Roadmap to come!

Media Independence Survey

As one of the all day activities happening at the Annexe, CIJ will be running a poll on Malaysians' perception on media independence in the country. Collaborating with polling firm Merdeka Centre, this survey is a major project to gauge public understanding of media independence and to what degree they think it exists in the local media. We are looking at a sample size of 1500 people and that's why we want you to participate in it!

We just need 10 minutes from you to sit down, fill in the questionnaire and return the form to us. Your 10 minutes will contribute towards improving our work on media freedom!

Interactive Exhibition - Media for the New Era

How is the future Malaysian media going to be? Our exhibition will be showcasing some glimpses of the future media - from your point of view. Yes, you. Our wall will be the space for you to express your media wish list. Like the holed sheet in the picture, we would like the public to fill up the blanks with their expectations and needs. After all, a the purpose of the free media is to serve the public's interest. So, feel free to put on the exhibition wall your wishes in any way - write, draw, paint, pose? See you there!

What Does Press Freedom Mean to You?

What does Press Freedom mean to you? We asked this question to local journalists and citizens, as well as international media advocates. Here's what they had to say...

Writers for Women's Rights Workshop

Have you ever disagreed with or felt angry about something a politician, or a reporter said or did, and wanted to raise your concerns but didn't know how? Have you ever felt like you have something to say about an issue, but didn't know who to tell? Come and see how you can use the media to voice your concerns, and bring about change. Learn how to write a letter to the editor, and make your voice heard. The AWAM's Writers for Women's Rights (WWR) will show you how to do this and how to use the media as a mode for activism. This will be a 1 1/2 hour session on Portrayal of Women in Media and How to Write Letters to the Editor.

The workshop is on 3 May at 4pm.

Trainer's profile:
Ng Tze Yeng runs Mosaic Street, a 4 person design and advertising outfit; and writes for Freespace, an opinion column in The Sun. She is on the AWAM's Working Collective and the co-ordinator for the Writers For Women’s Rights Programme. She loves feminism because it’s an ideology that helps her question ideologies, and challenge her own assumptions about herself.

Vizla joined the women's movement in Malaysia in 2005, when she began working at WAO. She joined AWAM's Writers for Women's Rights Programme (WWRP) in 2006, and is now in the Planning Team. She is also on WAO's Executive Committee. A full time student now, she is in training to become a Clinical Psychologist.

This event is open to the public - so, please do come if you have been itching to find out about media freedom issues and to get effective tips on writing letters to the editor - forward it on to friends who have been complaining about the news, and tell them here's a chance to do something! :)

Note: This workshop was wrongly stated in the banner as happening on Sunday, May 4. We wish to remind those interested to come on May 3 (Saturday).

May 4: Towards Media Law Reform-Speakers' Profile

Teo Nie Ching
Teo Nie Ching is the new member of Parliament for Serdang, and one of the eight-member team of MPs to table the Freedom of Information Act Bill in the parliament. Nie Ching is a lawyer and has been active in politics and human rights issue. Politics runs deep in her family. Her father was the secretary of the DAP Labis Campaign Committee, and her sister and brother-in-law are the Chair and the Deputy Chair of DAPSY in Labis respectively. In 2007 Nie Ching represented a UM student who was charged under the UUCA for political involvement and the Malacca pig farmers in the community's controversy with the state government. Nie Ching was also the commentator for AiFM and had a column in Nanyang Siang Pau.

Andrew Khoo Chin Hock
Andrew Khoo is the Bar Council's Co-Deputy Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee, having joined the Bar in 2006. He has been a practicing lawyer for 13 years, specializing in commercial and corporate laws and has a law firm of his own.




HR Dipendra
HR Dipendra has been a lawyer for eight years. A passionate believer in freedom of expression, Dipendra was part of the Southeast Asia Media Defense Network initiated by the Southeast Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA) and University of Oxford. He is currently the chairperson of the Kuala Lumpur Young Lawyers Committee. Dipendra has an LLB from the University of London and master in law from the London School of Economics.

Moderator: Wong Chin Huat
Wong Chin Huat is the chairperson of the Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI), a position he held since 2006. His involvement media freedom activism began in 2001, during the take over of Nanyang Siang Pau and the China Press by MCA. He was in the Committee Against Takeover (CAT) formed in response to the crisis. Prior to that he was the feature writer for Nanyang covering politics, social and cultural issues. Wong is a PhD candidate from the University of Essex and now lectures in journalism in Monash University, KL.

Setting the stage for WPFD

The 12th General Elections have presented some interesting opportunities and a platform to reiterate some of the issues related to freedom of expression that have been highlighted in the past.

The most notable was the extent to which the newspapers echoed the Barisan Nasional propoganda before and during the elections campaign, and possibly in ways that did more damage to the party. Readers have complained about the overly biased articles and reports, and a media monitoring initiative revealed the numbers to describe the bias.

The case of Makkal Osai, whose application for 2008 was rejected then given after an appeal raises questions about the minister's absolute discretion under the PPPA. Makkal Osai is happy, but for how long and for that matter, the other newspapers as well, especially Oriental Daily News which has yet to get its permit. See Chin Huat's article in theSun today on the PPPA.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar talked about relaxing the licensing provision under the PPPA, a recommendation made many times before from the media community and civil society groups. Examples, see CIJ, KAMI , WAMI, Charter 2000 and SUHAKAM.

How will the change in the political landscape with 82 Parliament seats and 5 states in the hands of the Pakatan Rakyat affect the media freedom agenda?

Will we have a Freedom of Information law in this term? Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has reiterated his commitment towards openness and accountability, but nothing much can happen as long as we have secrecy laws that protect abuses and wrongdoing. The opposition is proposing an FOI bill in Parliament, drafted by civil society, while the Selangor state government is pledging to introduce a state legislation within the year. How will BN respond?

One of the topics hardly mentioned in Malaysia is the need for community media, mainly in the form of community radio. Even the most developed nations have community media that add to the diverse and plural media environment, but importantly, to ensure that marginalised and dissenting views can reach the wider public through their own media. The internet is being exploited to get these through, as in the case of the communityforests.org that provides news roundups on issues of relevance to indigenous peoples. Examples of issues are the recent International Fact Finding Mission (IFFM) for Indigenous Peoples Land Rights that got very little coverage, and the Ipoh Echo, available in print for the Ipoh folks and online.

These are some of the issues that set the stage for this year's WPFD and we look forward to an engaging crowd at the forums as well as the exhibition.


"Freedom of Expression, Access to Information and Empowerment of People"
Some background to the theme, taken from the UNESCO's website for World Press Freedom Day.

Press Freedom contributes to Empowerment
In order for citizens to engage in public debate and to hold their governments and others accountable, key elements of living in a participatory democracy, citizens must have access to free, pluralistic, independent and professional media. The idea that communication and dialogue between different members of society will occur naturally cannot be taken for granted, and the media provide a means of access to information and igniting dialogue.

The role of community media
Even though many media outlets have made provisions for audience participation and have therein become more accessible to the people they serve, nowhere is accessibility and specificity of purpose so well defined as with community media. Currently radio is the most widespread form of community media in the developing world because it is cheap to produce and to access, can cover large areas, and overcomes illiteracy.

Access to information
Information can change the way we see the world around us, our place in it, and how to adjust our lives in order to maximize the benefits available through our local resources. Fact driven decision-making can significantly alter our political, social and economic perspectives. The right to access information can be interpreted within the legal frameworks that support Freedom of Information as it applies to information held by public bodies, or in a wider sense to encompass both access and circulation of information held by other actors, where it becomes intrinsically linked to Freedom of Expression.

Excerpts from UNESCO.

May 3: Towards Ethical Media- Speakers' Profile

Zainon Ahmad

ZAINON Ahmad is the political editor and consultant editor of theSun. Before joining theSun in 2002, he was the assistant group editor of the New Straits Times. Zainon also conducts training for jounalists and serves as media consultant in Malaysia and abroad. He was a visiting fellow at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Boston, and holds a masters degree in history. His column, What They Say appears every alternate Tuesday in theSun.

Jacqueline Ann Surin

Jacqueline Ann Surin's 14 years experience in journalism first started in The Star newspaper. In 2003, she joined The Edge as a business and economic writer and rose to be the assistant news editor of its sister publication, theSun in 2006. She and two other colleagues started malaysiavotes.com, a news portal dedicated to the reporting of the 12th General Election. Jacqueline is the winner of the Society of Publishers' Excellence in Opinion Writing Award in 2007.

Moderator: Gayathry Venkiteswaran

Gayathry Venkiteswaran was a journalist in The Sun for five years and was thrown into media activism as a result of a retrenchment exercise in 2002. She joined CIJ in 2002 as editor for the RadiqRadio project and took over as CIJ director in 2003 and as the Executive Director in 2007. She has also been a lecturer in two private colleges and worked with an international body as a communications manager. She has her first degree in journalism from Universiti Sains Malaysia and a Masters in International Relations from the Australian National University.