MEDIA advocacy groups have condemned the Dewan Rakyat speaker’s instruction to only allow official media to cover the upcoming parliamentary sitting on May 18. 

The restriction on other media organisations was announced by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Takiyuddin Hassan yesterday when giving a briefing on the sitting’s agenda.

National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM) president Farah Mashitah told The Malaysian Insight that as much as the union acknowledges the government’s effort in ensuring the safety of journalists during Covid-19, unofficial media should still be allowed access while adhering to safety precautions.

“RTM and Bernama will send at least two to three representatives. Why not limit them to only one representative per publication, and free up space for other media to send their representatives as well.

“A journalist’s duty is not only to report but to enquire and understand an issue in greater detail and each of us has a different question to ask.” 

“Therefore, it is imperative that parliamentary coverage is permitted to other media representatives,” said the NUJM president. 

Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) in a press statement also voiced its dissatisfaction towards the move to limit media coverage.

“It is highly regrettable that once again prevention of Covid-19 infections has been used as an excuse to prevent the media from carrying out our duties, although the MCO is expected to be lifted before Parliament is in session,” it said, referring to the expiry of the movement-control order (MCO) on May 12.

Geramm added that it is seeking the speaker’s consideration to revoke the instruction. 

The group also said following Parliament proceedings via livestream might result in inaccurate and imbalanced reporting as livestreaming can be problematic.

“Just as the media respectfully views Parliament as a key pillar of the country, we urge that a similar recognition is given to the media’s role as the fourth estate in a democracy,” Geramm added. 

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), meanwhile, said restricting media access to the Parliament sitting not only prevents journalists from doing their duty but keeps citizens from being fully informed about their elected representatives.

“Democracy means elected representatives will come under extensive public scrutiny, be asked tough questions, and come under a wide range of comments and criticism.” 

CIJ said the government should not use Covid-19 as an excuse to restrict media coverage and freedom.

“We reiterate that any measures taken to tackle Covid-19 that have the potential to restrict media freedom must be legal, necessary, proportionate and temporary with the aim of mitigating the immediate public health crisis.”

CIJ said the government must work with the media and provide a safe and enabling environment for the press to access the Parliament sitting. – May 9, 2020.