However on 30.9.2011 Friday, Najib insisted that he absolutely did not say that bumi quotas will be abolished. Since Bernama had reported on the need to “run or go away” from bumi quotas, will action then be taken against Bernama or any other BN-controlled paper for false reporting? As it is hard to imagine a government news department like Bernama daring to misquote or misrepresent what the Prime Minister said, will the Prime Minister be compelled to apologise for saying the wrong thing?

Failure to fully and comprehensively implement open tenders has led to scepticism amongst many investors of the seriousness of Najib in implementing the New Economic Model. Open tenders can lead not only to record budget surpluses by cutting down costs but also help to cut down corruption. Penang’s adoption of an open tender system has led to record budget surpluses, the top investment destination in Malaysia for 2010 and praise from Transparency International.

The Malaysian economy can do even better especially when at least RM 28 billion have been lost annually from waste and corruption. In fact the Global Financial Integrity Report prepared by World Bank economists gave an even more horrifying estimate of RM888 billion of “illicit money”(black or corruption money) secretly taken out of the country over a 9 year period.

—- Mandarin Version —
民主行动党秘书长林冠英于2011年10月1日在吉隆坡发表声明：

首相会不会针对自己在废除土著固打一事上出尔反尔而道歉？他会不会叫媒体纠正他们的虚假报道？

首相会不会针对自己在废除土著固打一事上出尔反尔而道歉？他会不会叫媒体纠正他们虚假的报道？《当今大马》和《马新社》分别在2011年9月27日及28日报道，首相指土著固打制最终应该被废除。

但是，到了2011年9月30日，纳吉坚持他完全没有发表过“土著固打制应该被废除”的言论。既然马新社报道过“土著固打应该被废除”，那么马新社及其它国阵控制的媒体是否会因虚假报道而被对付？让人很难想像，像马新社这样的政府新闻机关也胆敢错误引述或呈现首相的谈话，那么首相会不会因讲错话而被迫道歉？

由于纳吉没有全面地推行公开招标，已经让很多投资者怀疑纳吉是不是有诚意要推行新经济模式。公开招标不只可以节省成本从而减低预算，也可以对付贪污。槟城因推行公开招标而取得预算盈余、在2010年成为获得最多投资额的州属，也获国际透明组织赞扬。

马来西亚每年因浪费和贪污而损失280亿令吉，马来西亚的经济表现其实可以更好。事实上，世界银行经济学家所发表的全球金融诚信报告更让人吃惊，它说，过去9年，我国约有8880亿令吉的非法资金秘密外流。

林冠英

As an invited guest speaker, he was a witness to the entire night’s proceedings, and as an upstanding man of the community and president of the anti-graft body Transparency International Malaysia, he is as reliable a witness as any.

Therefore, this confirms that the seditious report carried by Utusan on its front-page entitled ‘Kristian Agama Rasmi’ that claimed a conspiracy between Christians and the DAP to replace Islam with Christianity as the official religion and to install a Christian Prime Minister is nothing more than an unsubstantiated and malicious lie.

In light of Datuk Paul Low’s statement, the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein must now take firm action against the UMNO-owned paper, which has so far been let off with a measly warning letter.

Such a light action does not befit the severity of the transgression, as the Utusan’s irresponsible reporting has caused much confusion and incited racial and religious misgivings amongst Malaysians. Most notably, it was the catalyst for Ibrahim Ali’s call for a crusade or holy war against Christians. I am sure that anyone would agree the repercussions have been extremely damaging to the fabric of Malaysian society.

Therefore, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin has no choice but to initiate stern and severe action on the newspaper, so as to send a clear signal that the BN Government upholds their supposedly 1Malaysian spirit of peace and harmony across all races and religions.

It is only by taking a firm stand and meting out appropriate punishment to the Utusan Malaysia, would Malaysians be able to close this sorry chapter and move forward together in peace and harmony.

PRESS STATEMENT BY DAP SECRETARY-GENERAL AND MP FOR BAGAN LIM GUAN ENG IN KUALA LUMPUR 19.05.2011

———- Chinese Translation————–

民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英于2011年5月19日在吉隆坡发表声明：

马来西亚国际透明组织主席拿督刘胜权，最近挺身而出，清楚地说明于5月5日在槟城举行的“伦理荣耀研讨会”中，无论是基督徒与行动党领袖或其他人之间，没有任何人建议把基督教变成官方宗教，或要基督徒当首相的誓言或协定。

刘胜权当晚是受邀成为主讲人，他是当晚研讨会的证人，也是社会上德高望众的名人，也是国际透明组织的主席，可以说是可靠的证人。

由此可以证明，《马来西亚前锋报》在煽动性封面报道《基督教为国教》谎称“基督徒与行动党共谋，要把基督教变成官方宗教，并让基督徒出任首相”是无中生有、恶意制造的谎言。

既然拿督刘胜权已经发表声明，内政部长拿督斯里希山慕丁必须马上采取行动，对付巫统所属的报纸，而不是用一封警告信就轻率地放过它。

如此轻微的对付行动完全与不符合《前锋报》所犯下的罪行，《前锋报》那种不负责任的报道已经导致混乱，挑起了马来西亚人民之间的种族与宗教猜疑情绪。值得注意的是，它已经成为依布拉欣阿里号召人们发动圣战对付基督徒的催化剂。我肯定任何人都会同意，他的反应已经极度严重地破坏了马来西亚的社会结构。

因此，拿督斯里希山慕丁别无选择，他必须采取严厉及严格的行动，向国阵传达明确的讯息，要他们捍卫一个马来西亚各种族、各宗教的和平及和谐共处的精神。

唯有坚持立场，适当地惩罚《前锋报》，马来西亚人民才可以告别这种悲哀的局面，共同迈向和平与和谐。

林冠英

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak can only convince Malaysians that Utusan does not enjoy full legal immunity and UMNO disagrees with Utusan Malaysia for printing dangerous lies of a Christian conspiracy between DAP and Christian pastors to set up a Christian state by:-

– directing Utusan Malaysia to withdraw and apologise for the false report;
-replacing the editors and reporters involved in such dangerous lies that can burn 1Malaysia

Utusan appears to enjoy legal immunity from printing such evil and malicious lies because Utusan is both owned and working fully under the direction of UMNO. National Union of Journalists’ President Hata Wahari had exposed this in an online interview, that Utusan’s editorial directives were set by the Umno political bureau which reportedly sits every Monday night to discuss the paper’s agenda for the week.

Those present are the president Najib Tun Razak, deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, the three vice-presidents – Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Hishamuddin Hussein and Safie Apdal – secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and information chief Ahmad Maslan.

According to Hata, the agenda is then communicated to Utusan Malaysia’s editor-in-chief via the prime minister’s office. The paper will run an issue for three days before dropping it completely unless it receives strong public support from top BN ministers. Hata said this is a clever strategy because by the third day the other media would have snapped it up to continue milking it, which would leave Utusan Malaysia free to start the ball rolling on another issue.

But while most urbanites can see right through Utusan Malaysia’s thinly-veiled propaganda, its rural readership remains staunch believers of Utusan’s lies. For that reason, any failure by Najib to act against Utusan will only confirm Hata’s revelation that Utusan’s lies of a Christian conspiracy to set up a Christian state or appoint a Christian Prime Minister was sanctioned by UMNO to entrench UMNO’s rural Malay support.

DAP challenges MCA, Gerakan or SUPP Ministers to bring up in Cabinet and demand stern action against Utusan. Should they fail to do so, then MCA, Gerakan and SUPP are merely playing the UMNO double-faced political sandiwara of saying one thing to the non-Malay community in the Chinese papers but doing differently to the Malays in Utusan Malaysia.

Press Statement By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur On 12 May 2011

——— Malay Translation —————–

Kenyataan Akhbar oleh Setiausaha Agung DAP merangkap Ahli Parlimen Bagan, YAB Lim Guan Eng di Kuala Lumpur pada 12 Mei 2011

Perdana Menteri hanya boleh meyakinkan rakyat bahawa Utusan Malaysia tidak menikmati kekebalan undang-undang dan bahawa UMNO sendiri tidak bersetuju dengan Utusan Malaysia yang menyiarkan fitnah berbahaya berhubung konspirasi untuk menubuhkan sebuah Negara Kristian dengan menukarkan Ketua Pengarang dan wartawan yang terlibat.

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hanya boleh meyakinkan rakyat Malaysia bahawa Utusan tidak menikmati kekebalan undang-undang dan bahawa UMNO sendiri tidak bersetuju dengan Utusan Malaysia yang menyiarkan fitnah berbahaya berhubung konspirasi antara DAP dan para paderi Kristian untuk menubuhkan Negara Kristian dengan:-

- mengarahkan Utusan Malaysia untuk menarik balik dan memohon maaf atas laporan palsu; dan

- menggantikan ketua editor dan wartawan yang terlibat dalam fitnah berbahaya yang seolah-olah membakar konsep 1 Malaysia.

Utusan nampaknya mempunyai kekebalan undang-undang walaupun menyiarkan fitnah jahat dan berbahaya kerana akhbar tersebut dimiliki dan diarah oleh UMNO. Presiden Kesatuan Wartawan Kebangsaan (NUJ), Hata Wahari dalam sebuah wawancara ‘online’ mengatakan bahawa mesyuarat Biro Politik Umno akan bersidang setiap hari Isnin malam untuk membincangkan agenda mingguan akhbar Utusan.

Antara mereka yang terlibat ialah Presiden UMNO Najib Tun Razak, Timbalan Presiden Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, tiga orang Naib Presiden Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Hishamudin Hussein dan Shafie Apdal serta Setiausaha Agung Tengku Adnan Mansor dan Ketua Penerangan Datuk Ahmad Maslan.

Menurut Hata, agenda tersebut akan disampaikan kepada Ketua Pengarang Utusan melalui pejabat Perdana Menteri. Agenda tersebut akan berlangsung lebih kurang 3 hari sebelum dilepaskan kecuali jika ianya menerima sokongan padu daripada pemimpin teratas BN. Hata berkata ini merupakan strategi bijak kerana menjelang hari ketiga, media lain akan terus memainkan isu ini sementara Utusan Malaysia akan bebas untuk menciptakan masalah baru.

Walaupun masyarakat bandar sekarang dapat melihat kebenaran melalui propaganda tipis yang dimainkan Utusan Malaysia, tetapi masih ada pembaca luar Bandar yang masih lagi setia dengan penipuan Utusan. Hatta kegagalan Najib untuk mengambil tindakan ke atas Utusan mengesahkan lagi pendedahan yang dibuat oleh Hata bahawa fitnah berhubung konspirasi menubuhkan Negara Kristian dan melantik Perdana Menteri beragama Kristian merupakan usaha UMNO untuk terus menarik sokongan penduduk luar Bandar.

DAP mencabar menteri-menteri daripada MCA, Gerakan mahupun SUPP untuk membawa perkara ini ke Kabinet dan menuntut tindakan tegas terhadap Utusan. Sekiranya mereka gagal berbuat demikian, ini menunjukkan bahawa MCA, Gerakan dan SUPP adalah peserta dalam sandiwara UMNO yang mengamalkan politik dua muka dan bersifat munafik.

Lim Guan Eng

———- Chinese Translation ————

民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英于2011年5月12日在吉隆坡发表声明：

唯有撤换涉及报道谎言的《前锋报》编辑和记者，首相才能让马来西亚人真正相信，《前锋报》既不享有司法免控权、巫统也不赞同其危险的“基督徒阴谋论”假报道。

如果要让马来西亚人真正相信，《前锋报》既不享有司法免控权、巫统也不赞同其危险的假报道，它们谎指行动党和基督教牧师共谋建立基督国的“基督徒阴谋论”，首相拿督斯里纳吉必须采取下列行动：

-指示《前锋报》撤回假消息，并为此道歉；
-撤换涉案的编辑和记者，这种危险的谎言足以烧掉“一个马来西亚”

《前锋报》 看来享有司法免控权，它们可以公然刊登邪恶及恶意的谎言，说到底，它是巫统所拥有、并在巫统指示下操作的报纸。全国新闻从业员协会主席哈达瓦哈里已经在接受网站访问里揭发，《前锋报》的编辑方向是由巫统政治局所设立的，他们每个星期一晚上都会讨论接下来一个星期的报道议程。

出席会议的人包括巫统主席纳吉、署理主席慕尤丁、三个副主席阿末查希、希山慕丁和沙菲益、总秘书东姑安南、新闻局主任阿末玛兹兰。

哈达指出，过后他们将通过首相署，把有关议程转告给《前锋报》的总编辑。除非有关报道获得国阵高层的热烈支持，否则在结束一个课题之前，它会将一篇报道炒作三天。哈达说这是高明的策略，因为通常到了第三天，其它的媒体将会继续追踪有关课题，接着《前锋报》就可以开始炒作其它课题。

大多数城市人已经看透《前锋报》这种含沙射影的宣传手法，但是，它的乡区基层依然坚定地相信《前锋报》的谎言。因此，如果纳吉不对付《前锋报》，只是证明了哈达所揭发的事情，那就是《前锋报》的“基督徒阴谋论”- 即建立基督国或让基督徒当首相的谎言，其实就是巫统一手策划批准的，以赢取巫统的乡区支持率。

行动党挑战马华、民政或人联党部长，在内阁反映此事，要求当局严厉对付《前锋报》。如果他们做不到，那么马华、民政和人联只是玩弄巫统的双面人政治把戏，在华文报对非马来人社群说一套，却在《前锋报》对马来人做另一套。

林冠英

Media Yang Bebas Dapat Tegakkan Demokrasi, Keadilan, Kebenaran, Dan Integriti Yang Kurangkan Rasuah Dan Penyelewengan.

Sempena Hari Kebebasan Media Sedunia, DAP menuntut agar Kerajaan Persekutuan segera memansuhkan Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan 1984 yang memaksa semua penerbitan membaharui permit setiap tahun serta yang memberi kuasa penuh kepada pemerintah untuk menggantung atau membatalkan permit tanpa sebarang alasan kukuh.

Desakan ini bukan sesuatu yang baru. Sejak ia diperkenalkan DAP telah dari awal lagi menentang undang-undang yang zalim ini, sebagaimana tuntutan DAP supaya Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA), Akta Rahsia Rasmi (OSA) dan Akta Hasutan turut dibubarkan.

Sebaliknya suatu Akta Kebebasan Maklumat atau Freedom of Information(FOI) harus digubalkan untuk menggantikan undang-undang kejam ini yang tidak relevan lagi dalam dunia tanpa sempadan di mana ekonomi kian berteraskan maklumat dan pengetahuan. Kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat telah mulakan usaha FOI di Selangor dan Pulau Pinang.

Walau pun media arus perdana yang dikuasai oleh BN dan UMNO terus menyerang habis Pakatan Rakyat dengan pelbagai fitnah dan tohmaha, usaha untuk membebaskan media daripada cengkaman pemerintah dan kroni-kroni mereka akan tetap diteruskan.

Memang rasuah, penyelewengan dan salah guna kuasa sukar untuk dihapuskan sama sekali tetapi ia boleh dikurangkan. Di peringkat pentadbiran, kerajaan-kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat termasuk Pulau Pinang telah pun membuktikan ia boleh dikurangkan melalui amalan CAT yang beteraskan cekap, akauntabel dan telus. Maka usaha Pulau Pinang mendapat perhatian dan pujian bukan sahaja daripada Laporan Ketua Audit Negara tetapi juga Transparency International. Lebihan bajet yang paling besar dalam sejarah negeri Pulau Pinang menjadikan Pulau Pinang digelar negeri yang paling baik dalam pengurusan kewangan.

Buat masa ini, usaha-usaha murni kerajaan-kerajaan negeri Pakatan tidak diberi liputan meluas oleh media arus perdana kerana mereka dikuasai oleh UMNO dan parti-parti komponen BN yang menyekat kebebasan media. Ini dibuktikan oleh pemecatan Presiden Kesatuan Wartawan (NUJ) Hata Wahari oleh suratkhabarnya Utusan Malaysia, yang juga majikannya, kerana mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa Utusan Malaysia tidak seharusnya menjadi lidah pengarang UMNO tetapi harus berdasarkan peristiwa yang berkaitan dengan rakyat.

Adalah dikesali media massa bersedia menjadi alat propaganda kerajaan menuduh parti pembangkang sebagai pengkhianat dan yang pelik ialah fitnah dan tohmahan ini dibuat oleh media massa UMNO atas alasan ia adalah kebebasan akhbar. Seperti yang disebut-sebutkan,”The Devil may quote the Scriptures for its purpose!”.

Malah, sejak akhir-akhir ini, ada kalangan media arus perdana termasuk TV3 dan Utusan Malaysia yang tidak peduli kepada kesopanan dan kesusilaan sehingga sanggup menyiarkan bahan lucah sebagai berita semata-mata untuk memburukkan kepimpinan Pakatan Rakyat tanpa sebarang bukti yang sah.

Media yang bebas dapat tegakkan demokrasi, keadilan, kebenaran, dan integriti yang kurangkan rasuah dan penyelewengan. Ini telah dibuktikan dengan perbandingan negara yang mengamalkan kebebasan akhbar juga lazimnya adalah negara yang bersih.

Ini boleh dilihat dalam kedudukan Malaysia dalam Indeks Persepsi Rasuah Transparency International telah merosot daripada No. 33 pada tahun 2002 kepada No.56 tahun lepas kerana kebebasan akhbar tidak bertambah baik tetapi masih dalam kategori “tidak bebas” mengikut Reporters Without Borders.
LIM GUAN ENG

民主行动党秘书长兼巴眼区国会议员林冠英于2011年5月3日在吉隆坡发表“世界新闻自由日”献词

自由的媒体可以捍卫民主、公正、真相及廉正，进而减少贪污和舞弊事件。

配合世界新闻自由日，行动党促请联邦政府立刻废除1984年出版和印刷法令，这项法令强制规定所有出版物每年更新执照，并给予统治者绝对的权力，在不需任何理由的情况下，吊销出版执照。

这项呼吁不是新闻。行动党从很早以前便开始反对这项恶法，正如我们也要求内安法令、官方机密法令、煽动法令被废除一样。

相反地，当局应该制定资讯自由法，来取代上述在全世界已经过时的恶法，现代经济强调资讯和知识。民联州政府已经在雪州和槟城制订资讯自由法。

虽然国阵和巫统掌控的主流媒体不断地以各种谎言攻击民联， 但是我们还是会努力让他们从统治者和朋党的压迫中解放出来。

贪污、舞弊和滥权是很难在一时之间杜绝的，但是它们可以被减少。在行政治理方面，民联州政府包括槟城已经证明，我们通过秉持能干、公信及透明的施政 方针减少贪污。因此，槟州不只获得总稽查司的赞扬，也获得国际透明组织的表扬。槟州获得史上最多的财政预算盈余，让槟州被称为理财表现最佳的州属。

现在，民联政府的努力并没有被主流媒体报道，因为他们被封锁媒体自由的巫统及国阵成员党控制。这可以从全国新闻从业员协会主席哈达瓦哈里被他的雇主《马来西亚前锋报》解雇可以看出，他曾发表声明，指《前锋报》不应该成为巫统的喉舌，而应该关注与人民有关的课题。

当大众媒体成为政府攻击在野党为叛徒的宣传工具时，这令人感到遗憾。最奇怪的是，这种污蔑和指控是巫统大众媒体假借“新闻自由”之名所做的。常言道：“魔鬼也能为自己的目的引述圣经！”

最近，主流媒体包括第三电视和《前锋报》 竟然伤风败俗地播放含色情元素的新闻，在毫无证据的情况下，一味地丑化民联领袖。

自由的媒体可以捍卫民主、公正、真相及廉正，进而减少贪污和舞弊事件。这可以从奉行媒体新闻自由的国家通常也是廉洁的国家可以看出。

从我国在国际透明组织的贪污印象指数排位中，从2002年第33名，下跌到去年第56名可以看出，因为我国的新闻自由状况并没有改善，反而被国际新闻自由组织无国界记者列在“不自由”的类别中。

林冠英

Dear Sir,

I wish to object in the strongest possible terms at your journalist’s dishonest and false reporting of a statement made by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at the MPPP Youth Park this morning on the “Little Napoleon” Nik Ali controversy. When asked to respond to PM Najib, DPM Muhyiddin and KPI Minister Koh Tsu Koon’s criticism of Lim for speaking out at the incompetence of State Development Officer Nik Ali, Lim had replied in a few simple sentences as follows:-

“I got the message from both Najib and Muhyiddin. That they still want to defend Little Napoleons like Nik Ali. I thank them for the message. As for Koh, who was rejected by Penang voters in the last general elections, his KPI now is to follow and parrot what the Prime Minister says so Koh has indeed fulfilled his KPI.”

For Bernama to twist this clear but simple response into Lim accepting in good faith the reproach from both Najib and Muhyiddin is dishonest and false. What is most shocking is the response from that Bernama reporter when I called her up to complain. She replied that she heard Lim Guan Eng clearly say “Little Napoleon” but had left that phrase out so that the story can come out. If she had reported what I said exactly the story would not come out. I told her firmly that we want a true statement and if that can not be truthful then don’t publish the story.

She then said she would pull out the story. Bernama has pulled out the story but did not give any explanation of the background causing some online news websites like the Malaysian Insider to pick it up and publish the false news. This is most unprofessional and unfair. And lends suspicions that the mainstream media is out to get and frame up Lim Guan Eng by any means possible.

As Press Secretary to the Penang Chief Minister I hope that Bernama explains fully such unprofessional misconduct.

Cheong Yin Fan
Press Secretary
Penang Chief Minister

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GEORGE TOWN, July 24 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has accepted in good faith the reproach from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin over his attack on state development officer (SDO) Nik Ali Mat Yunus.
“I accept the message from the prime minister and deputy prime minister…I thank them for the message,” he said after officiating at the Family Day of the Penang Development Corporation, here, today.

Najib said yesterday that the Cabinet could not accept Lim’s action of hitting out at Nik Ali to the extent of tarnishing the image of the federal officer.

He said as Chief Minister, Lim should be tactful when reprimanding officers over issues and should do it behind closed doors.

The spat between Lim and Nik Ali came out in the open after the Chief Minister made unsavoury remarks about the SDO on a number of occasions. —Bernama

Malaysians celebrate a gloomy World Press Freedom day 2010 by being in the bottom 32% of countries in the world with a press that is classified by Freedom House as “not free”. Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization based in the US that supports the expansion of freedom around the world. Freedom House supports democratic change, monitors freedom, and advocates for democracy and human rights.

In its latest 2010 Global Press Freedom rankings, Malaysia is listed at No. 141 equal with war-torn Zambia and Algeria as well as behind other war-torn countries such as Pakistan, and Liberia at 134. With 3 press freedom categories of ‘Free’, ‘Partly Free’ and ‘Not Free’ amongst 196 countries in the world, Malaysia is classified together with 63 countries in the world whose press is “not free”.

Amongst the principal reasons why Malaysia fares so poorly by being “Not Free” in press freedom is the existence of draconian law such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Internal Security Act, the Official Secrets Act and the Sedition Act. Malaysia can quickly climb up the rankings to be “partly free” by abolishing all these repressive laws.

Press freedom in Malaysia can be “free” if the Federal government enacts a Freedom of Information Act(FOI) and prohibits media ownership by political parties or political leaders. This is the principal reason why press freedom in a democratic country like Italy is classified by Freedom House as “partly free” as a result of control and ownership of media by the current Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. If Silvio Berlusconi disposed off his shares and media ownership, then press freedom in Italy will be quickly upgraded to “free”.

The question now is whether the BN government is serious about the New Economic Model(NEM) in developing talent, encouraging competition and nurturing excellence in an environment that is both transparent and accountable. Transparency and accountability have being identified by the Prime Minister as the core of the NEM to transform Malaysia into a high-income knowledge-based economy.

Without press freedom, accountability and transparency will cease to exist. The Federal government must therefore undertake three measures to give the NEM every chance of success by making press freedom “free” in Malaysia in firstly abolishing all repressive laws, secondly enacting a FOI and finally prohibiting media ownership by political parties or political leaders.

Penang will be creating a little bit of history by establishing the first “Speaker’s Corner” to allow free speech modeled after Hyde Park London on 5 May 2010 at Padang Kota Lama next to the Penang City Town Hall.

Media freedom deteriorating

However this was ignored and more media curbs imposed. No wonder our press freedom rankings dropped. And the first four months of this year alone did not see improvement with harassment of the press continuing.

On April 22nd 2010, a media award winning producer of ntv7 talk show “Editor’s Time” Joshua Wong was forced to resign in protest against unreasonable restrictions and “overzealous self-censorship and government interference” against the opposition by those close to the Prime Minister. “This restriction of freedom amounts to a punishment and it affects the professionalism of the team,” he said.

A few days later, a RTM2 producer Chou Z Lam also claimed political interference when his documentary on the Bakun dam project in Sarawak was cancelled under the direct instruction of RTM director-general Ibrahim Yahaya.for fear of affection BN’s chances in this coming Sibu by-election.

Other cases of curbs of press freedom this year includes:-

· In March 2010, the Home Ministry “advised” the China Press to decide on disciplinary action against its editor-in-chief for publishing a report that the Inspector General of Police had resigned. The daily promptly enforced the “advice” by suspending the editor-in-chief, as well as issued a page one apology pertaining to the news report.

· On 26 February 2010, the Home Ministry issued a show-cause letter to The Star over the article “Persuasion, not compulsion” by its managing editor, that was published on Feb 19 pertaining to issues of shariah law. The daily also apologised to its readers.

· A week later, The Star refused to publish its columnist Marina Mahathir’s column touching on the caning of women under the Islamic law in February.

· Intimidate book sellers by confiscating books deemed unfavourable to the Barisan government. Among the books seized in January and February this year were copies of “Where is Justice” and “1Funny Malaysia”.

At the same time no action is taken against Utusan Malaysia for its lies against Pakatan Rakyat leaders, preaching racial hatred and even violence. Freedom to lie is not freedom of the press. Similarly newspapers should observe one of the basic tenets of press freedom is to give a right of reply. This right of reply has been denied to repeatedly to PR leaders by the mainstream media controlled by BN.

In Penang, the State Legal Advisor had objected to the Penang state government’s intention to enact a FOI on the grounds that it is unconstitutional. According to her, information is under the Federal list of the Federal Constitution and not within the jurisdiction of the state government. The state government is closely following the efforts by the Selangor state government to enact the FOI and should this be successful will then enact a similar law in the Penang State Assembly.

The press must be free. Let all Malaysians press for freedom!

DAP urges Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to prove that there is press freedom in Malaysia by taking action against Utusan Malaysia for its lies against Pakatan Rakyat leaders, preaching racial hatred and dominance. China Press had reported correctly that the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hasan was leaving but they got the dates wrong by stating May when it was September this year. This difference of only a few months should not warrant such a harsh action of suspending their editor-in-chief Teoh Yong Khoon for two weeks especially when China Press had already apologized publicly.

Datuk Seri Najib had said during National Press Club (NPC) – Naza Awards two days ago that freedom without responsibility is no freedom at all. And that as long as the reports do not run foul of our existing laws, the press is free to report on pretty much anything. The actions taken against China Press shows this is not true. Just as the detention under ISA of a Sin Chew reporter Ms Tan Hoon Cheng for being a threat to public security, not for what she wrote but merely reporting the racist remarks of an UMNO leader(who did not apologise and was not arrested at all)

The adverse impact of China Press wrong reporting by a few months of the IGP’s leaving is minimal as there was no disturbances. However the false and irresponsible reporting of Utusan Malaysia preaching racial and religious hatred such as Penang cancelling the Maulidur Rasul procession, that Seputeh MP Teresa Kok detained under ISA for Utusan Malaysia’s false report that she removed speakers from suraus as the azan was too loud and that DAP was anti-Islam and anti-Malay was not acted upon.

Instead the authorities appear to encourage Utusan Malaysia to publish news reports and columns that humiliated the non-Malays as second class citizens and tried to stoke fear amongst Malays that they were being bullied. No wonder the Prime Minister’s private secretary described Indians who came to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese women who came here sold their bodies.

The actions against China Press shows that if there is any press freedom in Malaysia, it is limited to UMNO-controlled newspapers like Utusan Malaysia which enjoys complete freedom to lie without any responsibility contrary to truth, justice and morality.

The failure to repeal the ISA and Printing Presses & Publications Act shows that 1Malaysia is like a beautiful ice carving. It is nice to look at in a tropical climate Malaysia but will slowly but surely melt away, bringing about no changes.

I am surprised that Bernama has failed to correctly and accurately my comments on the new RM 300 million Sarawak State Assembly building in its report dated 30 July 2009. I was reported as saying,

“Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was also impressed with the new building, adding that Sarawak had the capability to provide the state with more infrastructure facilities.”

This is untrue and a wrong report. What I said in Bahasa Malaysia were word to this effect,

“Bangunan ini menarik perhatian. Yang menarik saya adalah pembentukan modal insan dan sumber manusia seperti dalam bidang pendidikan. Adalah penting sekolah dapat bekalan letrik kerana apa gunanya computer tanpa bekalan letrik. Penetration untuk jalur lebar(broadband) di Sarawak adalah 13%. Saya lebih berminat memberikan tumpuan kepada aspek menaikkan kadar penetration broadband atau jalur lebar ini.”

What was published appeared to give the impression that the Penang Chief Minister endorsed fully the completion of this luxurious building. Nothing can be further from the truth.

In the interest of professional, truthful and responsible journalism, Bernama should retract this wrong and misleading report and print in full the correct version.