Media restrictions make Malaysia ‘laughing stock’, says Kit Siang

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 13 May 2020 11:33AM · 3 Comments

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang says banning independent media from Parliament for the May 18 session will be the thin end of the wedge to control information and communication by imposing media censorship. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, May 13, 2020.

RESTRICTING the May 18 Parliament sitting to official media only will again make Malaysia “a laughing stock” to the rest of the world, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said.

He said the one-day sitting was already a mockery of parliamentary oversight and the latest move to limit the sitting’s coverage to only Bernama and RTM is “adding salt to injury”.

“It will be the thin end of the wedge to control information and communication by imposing media censorship in the country.

“I do not believe that it is impossible to accommodate the media’s request to ensure full access to Parliament, while adhering to effective ‘social distancing’ measures for the parliamentary session on May 18.

“I call on Parliament to discuss with media representatives to ensure parliamentary coverage on May 18 will not have to depend solely on ‘official media’,” the Iskandar Puteri MP said in a statement.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Takiyuddin Hassan at a briefing on the sitting’s agenda recently said that only official media will be allowed to report on the sitting, and other media could appeal to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker if they wanted.

The May 18 sitting is to hear the Royal Address and approve government spending on economic stimulus packages to mitigate the impact of Covid-19.

In a letter to all MPs in April, the secretary of the Dewan Rakyat said no question time for MPs or motions by private members will be entertained.

These moves have been criticised by the opposition and civil society, with many pointing out that parliaments in other countries have been able to meet and conduct debates virtually.

Media advocacy groups have also condemned the decision to allow only official media to the sitting, and suggested ways that social distancing can be observed so that more media organisations can be present. – May 13, 2020.

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Comments

  • Mr. Lim as an MP as well as a senior figure in a political party would you take the lead to table a motion in introducing a party hopping law for elected representative or are you just going to standby it and doing nothing at all except to cry fault whenever this unmoral act happens.. For the sake of our future generation get this going now.

    Posted 3 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

    • Agreed uncle lim pls help VOTERS OF MSIA. We feel FOOLED BY POLITICIANS. They Abandon Voters n HOP HOP HOP HOP HOP HOP N HOP . May their HOP IN SHITHOLE.

      Posted 3 years ago by Lucky Boy · Reply

  • A government that actively goes out of its way to hide proceedings from the Rakyat. This is like ten giant steps backwards for Malaysia. Why, are you scared of another Babi Babi Babi episode?

    Posted 3 years ago by Kinetica Cho · Reply