THE Centre For Independent Journalism (CIJ) is urging the Election Commission (EC) to reconsider its decision to bar non-official media from entering nomination centres, as in Sabah earlier today. 

CIJ executive director Wathshlah G. Naidu also urged the EC to allow all media personnel and journalists to enter vote-tallying centres when Sabahans go to the polls on September 26. 

“(This is) because the public has a right to know what transpires and be able to form their own opinion based on multiple sources of information, and any censorship and control of media platforms by the government will create an information vacuum,” she said in a statement today.

The EC had said that only members of official government media RTM, Bernama, the Information Department and National Film Development Corporation Malaysia are allowed to enter nomination centres for the Sabah elections.

This is in line with standard operating procedures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and ensure the safety of all parties, including media partners, it had said. – Bernama, September 12, 2020.