ANY decision to limit the number of media organisations in Parliament to cover the imminent tabling of Budget 2021 should be made by the Dewan Rakyat House Committee, said Lim Kit Siang.

The Iskandar Puteri MP said the House Committee is entrusted with the task “to consider and advise the speaker upon all matters connected with the comfort and convenience of and services and amenities available to members of the Parliament”.

He said this was provided for under Standing Order 79 (1).

“Limiting the November budget parliamentary meeting to 15 media organisations is arbitrary, discriminatory and against the very spirit of parliamentary reforms, which should inform all parliamentary decisions.

“This decision is particularly unacceptable as the selected 15 media organisations are not the top 15 media organisations if the people of Malaysia have a say in choosing them,” he said in a statement today.

This being the case, he said the decision to limit the media coverage must be reviewed immediately.

Lim said in the review, the House Committee and representative media organisations must be allowed to give their input and suggestions on the matter.

On Friday, Parliament’s corporate communications unit announced that only 15 media organisations will be granted access into Parliament for the November 2 to December 15 sitting, citing the need to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Lim is the latest MP to demand a review of the decision.

Previously, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had said it was not sensible to impose such a limitation.

“The media freedom to carry out this coverage is also for the people. We all have a right to get timely information and the latest news freely and transparently without any disruptions,” he had said on Facebook.

“I understand there is the threat of Covid-19 spreading. However, come up with a procedure for media organisations to undergo health checks and others.

“Don’t be selective as to who can conduct coverage in the Dewan Rakyat and who can’t.”

Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil had also criticised the move, calling it a ploy to restrict media freedom.

He said many online news channels and international wires were missing from the list, with the exception of Channel News Asia.

“I’m disappointed that the Parliament officials are preventing media agencies, in particular, online media agencies, from covering the tabling of the Budget 2021 Bill.

“This is actually the most important moment and more media agencies should be allowed to be present to cover the bill being tabled and debates on how the ringgit is managed by the government to address the current Covid-19 outbreak in the country,” he had said in a statement last week.

Simpang Renggam MP and former education minister Maszlee Malik had described the move as an assault on democracy.

“Initially, we have a PM who hides himself from the media.

“Then, it is followed by the ministers who give the picture that most of the ministries are without ministers,” he had tweeted. – October 18, 2020.