The Recent Case of the New Straits Times’ Deliberate Lies and Fabrication of News Against Australian Senator Nick Xenophon Demonstrates why the Chief Minister is Compelled Not to Invite the Unethical UMNO-linked Press to his Functions Purely as an Act of Self-Defence; Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng Will Sue the New Straits Times Press and Utusan Melayu (Bhd) for the False Report of a Dinner with Senior Singapore PAP Leaders where National Secrets were Allegedly Disclosed

The recent case of the New Straits Times’ deliberate lies and fabrication of news against Australian Senator Nick Xenophon demonstrates why I am compelled not to invite the unethical UMNO-linked press to my functions purely as an act of self-defence against such accomplished serial liars.

The New Straits Times has admitted that it falsely replaced the word “Scientology” with “Islam” in a speech quoted in its 2 May 2012 news report, which claimed that the Australian Senator had called Islam a “criminal organisation” and which accused him of being “anti-Islam”.

Like Senator Xenophon, Malaysians are also sickened by the UMNO-linked press’s blatant fabrication of lies passed off as news to the Malaysian public. The Penang State Government is therefore fully justified in refusing to allow its press conferences and State functions to be deliberately misreported and misrepresented by the UMNO-linked press. Although we believe in the freedom of the press, the refusal of the UMNO-linked media to abide by the basic ethics of truthful journalism, and their refusal to give me the right of reply to correct false news, leaves me without any choice but to act in self-defence by declining any news coverage from the UMNO-owned papers. Much as we want news coverage, better no coverage than coverage filled with hurtful lies, slander and falsehoods.

It has been reported that Senator Xenophon intends to go ahead and sue the New Straits Times for the damage that has been done to his reputation, despite the newspaper’s admission of guilt and statement of regret. In the case of a false news report carried by the New Sunday Times, Mingguan Malaysia and Berita Minggu on 2 October 2011, which was defamatory of me, Datuk Mohamed Azman Yahya and Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan, I have not received a single word of apology or of clarification.

These articles published in the UMNO-linked press carried PERKASA’s allegation that I, together with Datuk Azman and Datuk Seri Kalimullah, had attended a dinner with senior Singapore PAP leaders at which Malaysian national secrets were allegedly discussed. No attempt was made by these “newspapers” to clarify the allegation by contacting the parties alleged to have been involved.

These UMNO-linked “newspapers” have since apologised to Datuk Seri Kalimullah and to Datuk Azman for their false and defamatory allegation, but for political reasons have refused, in spite of my lawyers’ requests, to pay any damages or to publish any clarification or apology concerning the allegations against me.

I am therefore announcing that I will be instructing my lawyers to proceed to file an action for defamation in the High Court against PERKASA, the New Straits Times Press and Utusan Melayu (Bhd). I do not have the resources and ability to file a court defamation action every time the UMNO-linked media defame me. Even without their news coverage, the New Straits Times has continued to run defamatory articles against me. Imagine how many more court actions I would have to file if they were invited to run riot with lies at my news conferences.

LIM GUAN ENG

—-Mandarin Version—-

槟州首席部长林冠英于2012年5月4日在乔治市发表声明：

最近《新海峡时报》针对澳洲上议员尼克色诺芬恶意谎言及虚假新闻，可以说明为何首长出于自卫，被迫不邀请没有职业道德的巫统关联媒体出席他的活动；槟州首长也将起诉《新海峡时报》和《马来西亚前锋报》的假新闻，诬指我们在与新加坡资深人民行动党领袖共进晚餐时，泄漏国家机密。

最近《新海峡时报》针对澳洲上议员尼克色诺芬恶意谎言及虚假新闻，可以说明为何我出于自卫，被迫不邀请没有职业道德的巫统关联媒体出席我的活动，以提防这些不择手段的系列谎言。

《新海峡时报》承认它在2012年5月2日的报道中，误将有关澳洲上议员致词中的“科学论派（Scientology）”写成“伊斯兰（Islam）”，诬指他将伊斯兰称为“犯罪组织”并指他“反回教”。

正如澳洲上议员色诺芬，马来西亚人也对巫统关联媒体一再散布虚假谣言感到厌倦。因此，槟州政府拒绝这此媒体出席记者会及州属活动，以提防他们错误报道或诠释，完全合情合理。虽然我们相信新闻自由，但是，巫统关联媒体却不愿意遵守新闻的基本伦理- 真实性，他们也不愿给我回应错误新闻的权利，让我别无选择，只好进行自卫，拒绝巫统所属报章的报道。虽然我们也希望获得新闻报道，但是，与其让报章充斥伤害性谎言、诽谤及虚伪报道，还不如不要报道。

尽管《新海峡时报》已经道歉认错，但据报道色诺芬有意起诉《新海峡时报》 ，该报章已经对其名誉造成损伤。在2011年10月2日由《新海峡时报星期刊》、《每日新闻星期刊》及《每日新闻》都诽谤拿督莫哈末阿兹曼、拿督斯里卡立慕和我的虚假新闻，到今天，这些报道都还没有道歉或澄清。

这些巫统关联媒体所刊登的文章指中，土权组织伪称拿督阿兹曼、拿督斯里卡立慕都和我，一同与新加坡人民行动党资深领袖共进晚餐，并指我们讨论国家机密。这些报章完全没有意图联络相关人士进行澄清。

这些巫统关联报章后来针对本身的虚假、诽谤性言论道歉向拿督斯里卡立慕都和拿督阿兹曼道歉，但是尽管我的律师要求，基于政治理由，他们不愿针对我的指控赔偿损失或刊登任何澄清、道歉启示。

因此，我宣布，我将会指示我的律师入禀高庭，起诉土著权威组织、《新海峡时报》、《马来西亚前锋报》。我没有那多么资源和能力，在每次巫统关联媒体诽谤我时都起诉他们。就算他们没有报道，《新海峡时报》也一直撰写诽谤性文章针对我。可以想像，如果他们受邀出席我的新闻发布会，他们必会肆意制造谎言，到时，我到底要入禀多少次法庭。

林冠英

Malaysia’s Ranking Of 122 Out Of 178 Countries For 2012/2013 In The World Press Freedom Index Is Bound To Drop After The Debacle Of Police Brutality Against Reporters And Photographers During Bersih 3.0 And The Anti-Lynas Demonstration In Penang.

Press freedom is essential in any functioning democratic society, is clearly under threat in Malaysia. In the aftermath of the Bersih 3.0 debacle that saw not only innocent protesters but also media workers such as reporters and photographers being manhandled, beaten up and their camera equipment destroyed, there is no doubt that press freedom in our country is deteriorating and getting more restricted.

Earlier this year, there was short-lived joy as Malaysia gained 19 places in the 2011/2012 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders to 122nd place, compared to being ranked 141st in 2010. In actual fact, we have actually regressed because we were ranked 92nd in 2006, and have merely regained some lost ground. That said, being ranked joint-122nd on the same level as Tajikistan and Algeria is not something we can be proud of. Even Cambodia fared better at rank 117th.

In light of recent events, Malaysia’s ranking is set to take a dive. Nearly 20 reporters and photographers were reported to have been assaulted police during the Bersih 3.0 rally, including The Sun reporter Radzi Razak who was assaulted by up to 15 police officers.

Even reporters from international agency Al-Jazeera were not spared, as they reported Al Jazeera cameraman Ray Jones was punched at the head while Al Jazeera’s correspondent Harry Fawcett was roughed up while they tried to film an officer beating up a protester.

Worse, BBC and Al-Jazeera’s news coverage was censored by Astro for breaching local content regulations. To date, neither the Home Ministry nor Astro has clarified what the local content regulations were.

The fact that the police did indeed beat up members of the media is irrefutable. Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak himself whispered an apology to the Sun reporter Radzi Razak who was warded to hospital after the beating and the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar apology to another victim of police brutality, Malay Mail reporter Muhammad Ariff.

DAP regrets that the Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Hishamudin Tun Hussein Onn’s stated that the issue must be looked at in the right context because those allegedly beaten by protesters are worse off than those beaten by the police. Hishamuddin’s statement is shocking as it appears to give police the right to illegally beat up protesters. Whilst DAP supports action against demonstrators who turn violent, action must also taken against violence by policemen on peaceful demonstrators.

The public is sceptical whether the new independent panel set up by the Home Ministry to investigate complaints of police brutality will result in any action when no action is taken by the police on attacks against reporters in July last year at the Penang Bridge and at the anti-Lynas rally at Speaker’s Corner in Esplanade, Penang on 26 February. In the first incident 2 reporters were attacked last year when covering a demonstration involving UMNO at the Penang Bridge.

At an Anti-Lynas rally on 26 February 2012, UMNO and Perkasa members violently attacked and injured two reporters. One of the reporters had to endure 8 stitches to close his injury. Up to now, not a single person has been either arrested or charged by the Penang police. If even UMNO and Perkasa gangsters are not charged in court for beating up reporters, how can the public hope that the police will charge policemen involved in beating up reporters?

Any talk about transformation and greater freedom has been nothing more than lip-service. Until and unless an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) is formed and the Printing Presses and Publications Act abolished, there will never be true press freedom in Malaysia.

DAP expresses full support for all Malaysians to dress in black and pin a yellow ribbon to commemorate World Press Freedom Day today with many Chinese newspapers printing in black today. This occasion is important for press freedom and all Malaysians to stand in solidarity with not just Malaysians assembling peacefully but also the reporters and photographers who were either beaten, had their cameras taken away or smashed during Bersih 3.0 rally.

Lim Guan Eng

—-Mandarin Version—-
民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英于2012年5月3日世界新闻自由日献词：

马来西亚在2012-2013年世界新闻自由指数排名下滑是必定的（目前在178个国家中排名122），特别是警察在净选盟3.0及槟州反莱纳斯两场集会中，粗暴对待记者和摄影记者。

新闻自由是任何功能健全的民主社会的要素，在马来西亚，新闻自由被侵犯着。在净选盟3.0集会中，不只是无辜的集会参与者受到暴力对待，就连媒体工作者如记者、摄影记者的摄影器材也被毁坏，无疑地，我国的新闻自由情况不断恶化、打压更加严厉。

今年初， 马来西亚刚刚为无边界记者的2011/2013新闻自由指数排名上升到122名而感到欢喜，这个排名比2010年141名上升19位。但是，我们其实在退步，因为我们在2006年排名第92位，我们只是赢回一点点。意思说，与塔及克斯坦、爱尔及利亚同样排名122并不值得骄傲，就连柬埔寨的排名117都略胜一筹。

最近发生了那么多事，马来西亚的排名肯定又将滑落，在净选盟3.0集会中，将近20名记者和摄影记者遭警方粗暴对待，包括被15名警察围殴的《太阳报》记者拉兹拉萨。

就连国际通讯社《半岛电视台》也没有幸免，他们的报导指出，他们的录像记者雷琼斯的头部中拳，而通讯员哈里弗吉企图拍摄一名警员殴打集会者的片段时，也遭围殴。

更糟的是，英国广播电台和半岛电视台的新闻，被指触犯我国媒体内容条例而被Astro电视台检查。至今，内政部和Astro电视台都没有说明到底他们触犯什么媒体内容条例。

事实上，警方殴打媒体工作者是不争的事实。首相拿督斯里纳吉在《太阳报》 记者拉兹拉萨被打送院后，在其耳边轻声道歉。而总警长丹斯里依斯迈奥玛也向另一名警察暴力受害者《马来邮报》记者莫哈末阿力夫道歉。

民主行动党对于内政部长拿督斯里希山慕丁说，我们看这个课题的真实内容，因为那些被集会者殴打的情况比被警员殴打的情况还严重。希山慕丁的言论令人震惊，看来，警员授权非法殴打集会人士。民主行动党支持采取行动，对付那些粗暴的集会者，我们也认为粗暴对待和平集会人士的警员也必须受到对付。

公众都很怀疑，内政部针对警方暴力新成立的独立调查团，是否又会不了了之? 去年7月， 亲巫统示威者在槟城第一大桥示威，以及今年2月26日发生在槟州旧关仔角演说者角落的反莱纳斯大集会，也发生记者遭袭击事件，前者两名记者在采访巫统涉及的集会时被殴。

在2月26日反莱纳斯集会中，巫统和土权组织的成员暴力致伤两名记者，其中一名受伤的记者还缝了八针。到今天，槟州警方也还没有逮捕或提控任何人。如果巫统和土权的流氓在攻击记者可以逍遥法外，当局都没有采取行动，我们真的可以指望警方会提控那些涉及殴打记者的警员吗？

谈什么转型、更多新闻自由都只是空谈而已。除非政府成立独立警方投诉及行为不检委员会（IPCMC）、出版及印刷法令废除，否则马来西亚不会有真正的新闻自由。

民主行动党全力支持全体马来西亚人穿黑衣及配戴黄丝带，来纪念世界新闻自由日，今天也有很多中文报章以黑色版面出街。这是新闻自由的重要日子，也是全体参与和平集会的马来西亚人表示团结一致，也对那些在净选盟3.0集会中被殴打、摄影器材被抢走或毁坏的记者和摄影记者表示声援支持。

林冠英

All Malaysians Should Dress In Black And Pin A Yellow Ribbon On 3 May 2012 Not Only To Commemorate World Press Freedom Day But Also Stand In Solidarity With The Reporters And Photographers Who Either Beaten, Had Their Cameras Taken Away Or Smashed As Well As Were Victimised By Police Brutality During Bersih 3.0 Rally In Kuala Lumpur.

DAP fully supports and urges all Malaysians to dress in black and pin a yellow ribbon on 3 May 2012 not only to commemorate World Press Freedom day but also stand in solidarity with the reporters and photographers who either beaten, had their cameras taken away or smashed as well as were victimised by police brutality during Bersih 3.0 Rally in Kuala Lumpur

The public should stand in solidarity with media workers and reporters who became victims of police brutality during the peaceful Bersih 3.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday. That the police did indeed beat up members of the media is irrefutable when the Prime Minister himself whispered an apology to the Sun reporter Radzi Razak who was warded to hospital after the beating.

We strongly condemn the ugly scenes last Saturday at the Bersih 3.0 rally where many protesters, including media workers and reporters, were indiscriminately attacked and injured by police officers. Numerous reports have come in about incidents of police brutality, including Sun reporter Radzi Razak who was assaulted by up to 15 police officers, while a Malay Mail photographer was punched by the police and had his camera destroyed. A Malaysiakini reporter was arrested and his camera equipment confiscated. Even reporters from international agency Al-Jazeera were not spared, as they reported being roughed up while they tried to film an officer beating up a protester.

What has our country turned into when even the sacred rule of freedom of the press can be openly, publicly and blatantly violated. In the past, freedom of the press was curtailed secretly and not publicly with the BN imposing self-censorship by the editors. To make matters worse, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein had the audacity to brush the allegations away by claiming that it was Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the police to confiscate camera equipment. However, the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar himself has now come out to contradict Hishamuddin by insisting that seizing camera equipment was not part of police SOP.

If the IGP is correct, then Hishamuddin must apologise to every reporter who was assaulted. He must also order an investigation into the misconduct of the police and bring those guilty to justice. There must be no cover up, or he will risk ruining what little reputation is left of the police.

Malaysians have great doubts as to whether a full and proper investigation will be fruitful and action taken against the perpetrators. We are reminded of similar police inaction in an incident at the First Penang Bridge on July last year when again pro-UMNO demonstrators disrupted traffic flow and beat up 2 reporters. To-date no one was arrested.

The second more serious accident happened again in an anti-Lynas rally in the Speaker’s Corner in Esplanade in Penang on 26 February, UMNO and Perkasa members behaved like thugs, violently attacking and injuring 2 reporters during an anti-Lynas rally. One of the reporters had to endure 8 stitches to close his injury.

The policemen present just stood by and did not act to stop or arrest those involved in the barbaric attacks of UMNO and Perkasa members attacking peaceful anti-Lynas demonstrators and physically force the anti-Lynas demonstrators to leave. Up to now not a single person has been either arrested or charged by Penang police.

If UMNO and Perkasa ordinary thugs can get away with assaulting reporters in Penang, with no action taken to date despite plenty of photo and video evidence, can we really expect any justice when it is the police themselves perpetrating the act this time? Only an independent inquiry comprising international experts can trusted with providing a credible report on how to apportion blame to the police so that we can find out the truth of what happened.

Lim Guan Eng

———- BM Translation———
Kenyataan Akhbar oleh Setiausaha Agung DAP dan Ahli Parlimen Bagan Lim Guan Eng di Kuala Lumpur pada 1.5.2012

Semua Rakyat Malaysia Harus Memakai Hitam Dan Pin Reben Kuning Pada 3 Mei 2012 Bukan Sahaja Untuk Memperingati Hari Kebebasan Akhbar Sedunia Tetapi Juga Untuk Berdiri Dalam Solidariti Bersama Para Wartawan Dan Jurugambar Yang Telah Dipukul, Kamera Dirampas Atau Dipecah Serta Dimangsakan Oleh Keganasan Polis Semasa Perhimpunan Bersih 3.0 Di Kuala Lumpur.

DAP menyokong penuh dan menyeru agar semua rakyat Malaysia memakai hitam dan pin reben kuning pada 3 Mei 2012 bukan sahaja untuk memperingati Hari Kebebasan Akhbar Sedunia tetapi juga untuk berdiri dalam solidariti bersama para wartawan dan jurugambar yang telah dipukul, kamera dirampas atau dipecah serta dimangsakan oleh keganasan polis semasa perhimpunan Bersih 3.0 di Kuala Lumpur.

Pihak awam harus berdiri dalam solidariti bersama pekerja media dan wartawan yang telah menjadi mangsa keganasan polis semasa perhimpunan aman Bersih 3.0 di Kuala Lumpur Sabtu lepas. Memang sah bahawa pihak polis telah memukul para pekerja media apabila Perdana Menteri sendiri telah membisikkan maaf kepada wartawan The Sun Radzi Razak yang telah dimasukkan ke dalam wad hospital selepas dipukul.

Kami mengutuk hebat adegan-adegan ganas Sabtu lepas di perhimpunan Bersih 3.0 di mana ramai pemprotes termasuk pekerja media dan wartawan telah dipukul dan dicederakan oleh pegawai-pegawai polis. Banyak laporan yang menceritakan keganasan polis, termasuk wartawan The Sun Radzi Razak yang telah dipukul oleh sehingga 15 pegawai polis, sementara seorang jurugambar Malay Mail telah ditumbuk oleh polis dan kameranya dipecahkan. Seorang wartawan Malaysiakini pula telah ditahan dan peralatan kameranya telah dirampas. Malah wartawan antarabangsa daripada Al-Jazeera pun tidak terkecuali, apabila mereka telah dikasari semasa mengambil gambar polis sedang memukul pemprotes.

Apakah yang sudah terjadi apabila peraturan keramat kebebasan akhbar boleh dilanggar secara terbuka, umum dan terang-terangan? Dahulu, kebebasan akhbar telah disekat secara senyap dan bukan secara umum melalui penapisan sendiri oleh para pengarang. Yang lebih teruknya, Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein tergamak menyatakan bahawa tindakan untuk merampas peralatan kamera itu adalah “Standard Operating Procedure” (SOP) polis. Namun demikian, Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Ismail Omar sendiri telah menyatakan bahawa perampasan peralatan kamera itu bukanlah SOP polis, lantas bercanggah dengan Hishamuddin.

Sekiranya Ketua Polis Negara betul, maka Hishamuddin harus meminta maaf kepada setiap wartawan yang telah dipukul. Beliau harus juga memerintah agar siasatan dibuat untuk membawa pegawai-pegawai yang bersalah ke muka pengadilan. Jika ini tidak dibuat dengan terbuka dan tanpa mengaburi kebenaran, maka beliau akan lagi merosakkan reputasi polis yang sudah terhakis.

Rakyat Malaysia mempunyai keraguan sama ada siasatan yang penuh akan berhasil dan tindakan akan diambil ke atas pesalah. Kita teringat kepada tindakan pihak polis yang tidak membuat apa-apa dalam insiden Jambatan Pulau Pinang pada bulan Julai tahun lepas apabila pembantah pro-UMNO telah menggangu aliran trafik dan memukul 2 orang wartawan. Sehingga kini tidak ada sebarang penangkapan.

Insiden yang kedua pula adalah semasa perhimpunan anti-Lynas di Sudut Pidato di Padang Kota Lama, Pulau Pinang pada 26 Februari, apabila ahli-ahli UMNO dan Perkasa telah bertindak ganas dan mencederakan 2 orang wartawan. Seorang wartawan terpaksa menerima 8 jahitan kerana kecederaannya.

Pegawai-pegawai polis di sana hanya berdiri dan tidak menghentikan atau menangkap mereka yang terlibat dalam keganasan ahli-ahli UMNO dan Perkasa yang menyerang para pemprotes anti-Lynas yang aman. Sehingga sekarang, tidak ada seorang pun yang telah ditahan atau didakwa oleh polis Pulau Pinang.

Jika samseng UMNO dan Perkasa boleh bertindak ganas terhadap wartawan di Pulau Pinang tanpa sebarang tindakan diambil walaupun terdapat banyak bukti gambar dan video, bolehkah kita mengharapkan keadilan apabila pihak polis pula yang kali ini bertindak ganas? Hanya siasatan yang terdiri daripada pakar antarabangsa boleh memberi laporan yang boleh dipercayai supaya kita boleh mengetahui kebenaran apa sebenarnya yang berlaku.

Lim Guan Eng

——Mandarin Version—–

民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英于2012年5月1日在吉隆坡发表声明：

全体国人应该在2012年5月3日穿黑衣及配戴黄丝带，不只是纪念世界新闻自由日，同时也对那些在吉隆坡净选盟3.0大集会中，遭警方粗暴对待、殴打、相机被抢甚至摧毁的记者及摄影记者，表示团结支持。

民主行动党全力支持并促请全体马来西亚人，在2012年5月3日穿黑衣及配戴黄丝带，不只是纪念世界新闻自由日，同时也对那些在吉隆坡净选盟3.0大集会中，遭警方粗暴对待、殴打、相机被抢甚至摧毁的记者及摄影记者，表示团结支持。

公众应该与媒体工作者及记者站在同一阵线上， 他们在上周六净选盟3.0集会中，成了警方暴力的受害者。警员殴打媒体记者是不争的事实，在《太阳报》记者拉兹拉萨被打致入院后，首相也亲自在他的耳边道歉。

我们强烈谴责上个星期六净选盟3.0大集会的丑陋场面，很多示威者、包括媒体工作者及记者，都遭到警员的袭击而受伤。我们看到很多关于警方暴力的报道，包括《太阳报》记者拉兹拉萨被15名警员袭击，一名《马来邮报》记者被警员挥拳殴打、相机器材也被毁坏。一名《当今大马》记者被逮捕、相机被没收。就连国际通讯社半岛电视台也没有幸免，根据报道，他们在录取一名警员殴打示威者的片段时，遭到粗暴对待。

我们的国家什么时候变成这样？就连神圣的新闻自由也可以被公开地、粗暴地侵犯。过去，国阵静悄悄地打压新闻自由、新闻编辑也被逼自我审查。更糟的是，内政部长拿督斯里希山慕丁竟然胆敢说，警方没收相机是他们的标准作业程序（SOP）。不过，总警长丹斯里依斯迈奥玛已经站出来，与希山慕丁言论相反，说明没收相机器材不是警方的标准作业程序。

如果总警长没说错，那么，希山慕丁必须向每一名被袭击的记者道歉。他必须下令调查警方的错误行为、将这些人绳之以法。他不能掩盖事实，否则警队仅有的声誉就将被他摧毁。

马来西亚人对于当局是否能够进行全面及正式的调查、是否有结果、动粗者是否会遭对付感到怀疑。我们不禁想起，去年7月， 亲巫统示威者在槟城第一大桥示威、扰乱交通殴打两名记者时，警方当时也是袖手旁观。直到今天都没有人被逮捕。

第二宗比较严重的意外就是今年2月26日发生在槟州旧关仔角演说者角落的反莱纳斯大集会，巫统和土权组织的成员表现得像流氓那样、也反对莱纳斯大集会时致伤两名记者，其中一名受伤的记者还缝了八针。

当时值勤的警方也只是站在一旁，没有阻止他们或逮捕这些行为粗暴、攻击和平集会者、强行驱赶反莱纳斯集会者的巫统及土权组织的成员。到今天，槟州警方也还没有逮捕或提控任何人。

如果巫纺和土权的流氓在槟州攻击记者可以逍遥法外，甚至有许多图片、录像为 证，当局都没有采取行动，我们真的可以指望警方这次的粗暴行动，会有人伸张正义吗？唯有一个独立调查团（包括外国专家成员）才能提供有公信力的报告、追究警方的责任，让真相水落实出。

林冠英

MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Gerakan President Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon must explain Penang MCA and Gerakan’s support for Utusan Malaysia by condemning me for a joking reference I made, during the presentation of Penang PR state government’s annual allocations for Chinese and mission schools, that Sinar Harian is preferred over Utusan Malaysia as the latter is racist and against non-Muslims and non-Malays.

Utusan Malaysia had supported Perkasa in confronting non-Malays and non-Muslims and perpetuated lies to increase hatred amongst Malays. In fact, Utusan Malaysia had even labeled attacks against failure to act against corruption as an attack on Malays and that the May 13 tragedy that caused so much loss of life and bloodshed should be celebrated as a holy day. For this reason, I can not understand why any non-Malay student would want to read Utusan Malaysia that is filled with hate and lies.

I had jokingly said that non-Malay students reading Utusan Malaysia will have a distorted view of a life without any political, civil and economic rights and that they must accept their position as 2nd or 3rd class citizen even though their ancestors have been in Malaysia for hundreds of years.

For this reason,Sinar Harian is preferred over Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian as Sinar Harian does not preach hatred, lie or use the language of violence. I had won a defamation suit against Utusan Malaysia for spreading lies that I had banned the Maulidur Rasul procession and ordered the destruction of Malay kampongs. Further how can I politicise the issue when I did not ask that they choose Harakah, Suara Keadilan or Rocket but Sinar Harian which is not owned by PR?

I had expected attacks by UMNO leaders against me for promoting Sinar Harian over Utusan Malaysia, even though UMNO tries to play a racial game by claiming that I asked for a boycott of Malay papers like Utusan Malaysia without mentioning my preference for Sinar Harian. Is Sinar Harian not a Malay paper?

However I am surprised that Penang MCA and Gerakan has taken a strong position to support a racist paper like Utusan Malaysia against me. Is MCA willing to work with Utusan Malaysia solely for political gain.Perhaps this is a classic case of two racist organizations working together like birds of feather flock together.

Why is there a change in stand of MCA similar to MCA now opposing the Lynas rare earth plant in Kuantan when they had previously supported it? Or the failure by Chua to condemn Deputy Education Minister Puad Zarkashi for calling Dong Ziao Zong(DZZ) as a racist organization because of DZZ’s pro-vernacular education rally on 25th March 2012?

Chua Soi Lek should explain this surprising transformation from supporting Lynas to opposing Lynas and from opposing Utusan Malaysia to supporting Utusan Malaysia. Clearly MCA is a party bereft of ideas and ideals as well as empty of principles and public interest.

—-Mandarin Version—

民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英于2012年4月12日在吉隆坡发表声明：

蔡细历和许子根一定要解释，槟州马华和民政为何支持《马来西亚前锋报》，他们遣责我开玩笑说《每日阳光》（Sinar Harian）比《前锋报》好，因为后者是种族主义报章，专门针对非穆斯林和非马来人。

马华总会长拿督斯里蔡细历和民政党主席丹斯里许子根要解释，为何槟州马华和民政支持 《前锋报》？他们谴责我出席一项民联拨款华校和教会学校的移交仪式时，开玩笑地告诉学校购买《每日阳光》，因为《前锋报》是种族主义报章，专门针对非穆斯林和非马来人。

《前锋报》 支持土著权威组织，与非马来人、非穆斯林对抗，不断地在马来社群散布谣言、制造仇恨。事实上，《前锋报》甚至把人民批评肃贪失败，编造成人民攻击马来人，而513如此血腥的悲惨日子，也被他们写成值得庆祝的神圣日子。因此，我不明白，为什么非马来人学生还要继续阅读这种散播仇恨和谎言的报章？

我开玩笑地说，那些阅读《前锋报》的非马来人学生一定对于政治、公民及经济具有扭曲的看法，认为自己毫无权利，必须接受自己是二等或三等公民的地位，尽管他们的祖先已经在马来西亚居住了数百年。

因此，学生应该阅读《每日阳光》 而不是《前锋报》及《每日新闻》，因为《每日阳光》不会教导读者心怀仇恨、撒谎，也不会使用暴力语言。我在起诉《前锋报》诽谤的官司中获胜，他们撒谎指我禁止先知诞辰游行以及下令摧毁马来甘榜。我要他们订阅《每日阳光》，这家报章不是民联报章，又不是要他们订阅党报如《哈拉卡》、《公正报》或《火箭报》，怎么算是政治化这个课题？

我已经料到巫统领袖对攻击我推广《每日阳光》，叫人们放弃阅读《前锋报》，巫统还企图断章取义玩弄种族游戏，说我呼吁人们抵制像《前锋报》那样的马来报章，但是却没有指出我呼吁人们支持《每日阳光》，难道《每日阳光》不是马来报吗？

但是，我很惊讶，槟州马华和民政竟然采取了强烈的立场，支持像《前锋报》这样的种族主义报章，对付我。马华是不是为了政治好处而支持《前锋报》？这两个种族主义组织一起合作，正好称得上是狼狈为奸。

马华为什么改变立场，就好像他们从支持关丹稀土厂，改为反对有关项目？当副教育部长弗亚查卡斯因董教总在2012年3月25日主办华教集会，而称董教总为种族主义组织时，为何蔡细历不谴责他？

蔡细历应该解释，他们为何从支持莱纳斯变成反对莱纳斯，又从反对《前锋报》转为支持《前锋报》？很明显地马华是一个没有理想、理念，原则空洞无力及不顾公众利益的政治。

林冠英

Whilst I Had Stuck To The Debate Topic And Avoided Making Personal Attacks, BN-Controlled Media Is Trying To Whitewash Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek’s Personal Attacks Not Only Against Me But Also Against Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

Whilst I had stuck to the debate topic of “Is The 2-Party System Becoming A 2-Race System” on 18 February 2012 and avoided making any personal attacks against MCA President Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek, BN-controlled media is desperately trying to whitewash Chua’s personal attacks not only against me but also against his predecessor Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat. The BN-controlled media did not point out that the only personal attacks were coming from Chua.

If personal attacks are the criteria for success then there is no doubt that Chua is the victor. However I had refused to engage in personal attacks as a debate should be a healthy contest of ideas, ideals and principles. Who won or lost should be judged by the television viewers and audience.

Fortunately such attempts by these BN-controlled media to whitewash Chua’s personal attacks not only against me but surprisingly against Ong Tee Keat, would not work as the debate was telecast live. This is the reason why the English and/or Bahasa Malaysia debate next month with Chua must be also be telecast live so there is no distortion of what actually happenend.

A clear example of such whitewashing is the repeated lies by MCA-owned paper the Star. Yesterday I had written to Star Executive Editor / Group Chief Editor Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, that I can neither condone nor accept when the Star invents quotes that I never said. Under the article “What they said” in page 6 of the Star on 19.2.2012, I was reported to have said,

“We do not agree the Prime Minister must always be Malay because we want the people to decide.”

As The Star is owned by MCA, I respect the right of The Star to present a partisan slant and biased report of the proceedings. However, this quote attributed to me is false and untrue because no reference whatsoever was ever made by me on this issue during the debate. I regret that the Star did not print my letter and admitted their error somewhat reluctantly in today’s print edition.

I am shocked that the very same lie was perpetuated by Star columnist Baradan Kuppusamy in his column today at Page 24 under the title “All hype but no climax? Where Baradan wrote, “Furthermore, he(Lim) said the Pakatan did not agree that only a Malay could be the Prime Minister, and that this should be put to the people to decide.”

This is not the only lie by Baradan. Another lie by Baradan in his column is that I only wanted a second debate in English or Bahasa Malaysia now to repair the damage from having a scarred reputation after the Mandarin debate. I had written before the 18 February 2012 debate on 15 February 2012 asking for a second debate in English/ Bahasa Malaysia for the benefit of non-Chinese speakers. This was also agreed to by Chua before the first Mandarin debate.

For this reason, Star should withdraw and apologise for Baradan’s column that does not adhere to facts in line with the spirit of “Comment is free, but facts are sacred!’.

I have no objections to the second debate in English /Bahasa Malaysia being held in Kuala Lumpur at the same venue of Berjaya Times Square or by any organiser provided it is neutral and ensure impartial treatment to both debators. There should be no repeat of the Mandarin debate which was jointly organised by MCA, where MCA was able to stack 12 out of the 13 questions asked from MCA members, directing their vitriolic attacks against me.

How can I answer 12 out of 13 questions in 3 minutes especially when most of them were lies? For this reason I chose not to answer these lies as the debate should be about truth and the policies that PR wants to implement to change Malaysia. Policies should be presented for judgment to the audience as we want a policy state not a police state.

—- BM Version —
Kenyataan Sidang Akhbar oleh Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng pada 20.2.2012 di Komtar, George Town.

Sementara saya tidak lari dengan tajuk debat dan dielakkan membuat serangan peribadi, media kawalan BN cuba menutup serangan peribadi yang dilakukan oleh Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek bukan sahaja kepada saya tetapi juga kepada Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

Sementara saya tidak lari dengan tajuk debat “Adakah sistem dua parti membawa kepada sistem dua bangsa” pada 18 Februari 2012 dan dielak membuat serangan peribadi menentang Presiden MCA Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek, media kawalan BN terdesak untuk menutup serangan peribadi yang dilakukan Chua bukan sahaja kepada saya tetapi juga terhadap pendahulunya, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat. Media kawalan BN langsung tidak menyatakan bahawa serangan peribadi datang dari Chua.

Sekiranya serangan peribadi adalah kriteria untuk berjaya, maka tiada sebarang keraguan bahawa Chua adalah pemenang. Walau bagaimanapun, saya enggan terlibat dalam serangan peribadi kerana debat seharusnya merupakan sebuah pertandingan yang berlandaskan idea, cita- cita dan prinsip- prinsip. Siapa menang atau kalah seharusnya diadili oleh penonton televisyen dan juga penonton.

Mujurlah cubaan tersebut oleh media kawalan BN , bukan sahaja kepada saya tetapi yang paling memeranjatkan terhadap Ong Tee Keat, tidak berjaya kerana debat itu disiarkan secara langsung. Inilah sebabnya mengapa debat Bahasa Inggeris dan/atau Bahasa Malaysia bulan depan bersama Chua mesti disiarkan secara langsung supaya tidak ada penyelewengan apa yang sebenarnya terjadi.

Contoh yang jelas ialah merupakan pembohongan berulang oleh pemilik akhbar The Star- MCA. Semalam saya telah menulis surat kepada Pengarah Eksekutif / Ketua Pengarang Kumpulan Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai bahawa saya tidak dapat membiarkan atau menerima apabila The Star mengada- adakan cerita yang saya tidak pernah cakap. Di bawah artikel “What they said” dalam halaman 6 akhbar The Star pada 19.2.2012, saya telah dilaporkan berkata,

“We do not agree the Prime Minister must always be Malay because we want the people to decide.”

( “Kami tidak bersetuju Perdana Menteri mesti sentiasa terdiri daripada orang Melayu kerana kami mahu rakyat yang membuat keputusan” )

Disebabkan The Star adalah milik MCA, saya menghormati hak The Star untuk menyiarkan “laporan berat sebelah” mengenai pendebatan tersebut. Walau bagaimanapun, petikan yang dikeluarkan itu adalah palsu dan tidak benar kerana tiada sebarang rujukan atau apa juga sekalipun pernah dibuat oleh saya mengenai isu ini ketika perbahasan. Saya kesal bahawa The Star tidak mencetak surat saya dan hanya mengakui kesilapan tersebut dengan berat hati dalam edisinya hari ini.

Saya amat terperanjat apabila kesilapan sama disiarkan oleh kolumnis Star, Baradan Kuppusamy dalam kolumnya hari ini di halaman 24 di bawah tajuk “All hype but no climax?” (semua gembar- gembur tetapi tiada kemuncak?”) di mana Baradan menulis , “Furthermore, he(Lim) said the Pakatan did not agree that only a Malay could be the Prime Minister, and that this should be put to the people to decide.” (Tambahan Lim berkata Pakatan tidak bersetuju bahawa hanya orang Melayu sahaja boleh menjadi Perdana Menteri, dan ini perlu diserahkan kepada rakyat untuk membuat keputusan”).

Ini bukan merupakan satu- satunya penipuan oleh Baradan. Satu lagi penipuan oleh Baradan dalam kolumnya ialah saya hanya mahu debat kedua dalam Bahasa Inggeris atau Bahasa Melayu untuk membaiki kerosakan reputasi selepas perdebatan dalam bahasa Mandarin itu. Saya telah menulis sebelum debat pada 18 Februari 2012 iaitu pada 15 Februari 2012 meminta perdebatan kedua dalam Bahasa Inggeris/ Bahasa Malaysia demi kebaikan orang bukan Cina. Ini telah dipersetujui oleh Chua sebelum membuat keputusan sebelum perdebatan pertama dalam Mandarin ini.

Atas sebab itu, The Star seharusnya menarik balik dan memohon maaf untuk kolum Baradan yang tidak patuh kepada fakta selaras dengan semangat “Comment is free, but facts are sacred!’.

Saya tidak mempunyai bantahan terhadap pendebatan kedua dalam Bahasa Inggeris/ Bahasa Malaysia diadakan di Kuala Lumpur di lokasi yang sama iaitu Berjaya Times Square atau mana- mana pihak penganjur dengan syarat ia aalah neutral dan memastikan layanan yang adil kepada kedua- dua pendebat. Tidak seharusnya ada ulangan debat dalam bahasa Mandarin yang dianjurkan bersama oleh MCA di mana MCA telah menghimpunkan 12 daripada 13 soalan yang ditanya daripada ahli- ahli MCA yang mengarahkan kecaman terhadap saya.

Bagaimana saya boleh menjawab 12 daripada 13 soalan dalam 3 minit terutamanya apabila kebanyakan daripada mereka adalah dusta? Atas sebab itulah saya memilih untuk tidak menjawab pembohongan kerana debat seharusnya dilakukan demi kebenaran dan polisi- polisi yang Pakatan Rakyat mahu laksanakan untuk mengubah Malaysia. Dasar- dasar ini perlu dibentangkan untuk pertimbangan penonton kerana kita mahu sebuah negara polisi bukan negara polis. ( policy state not a police state. )

Lim Guan Eng

—-Mandarin Version—

槟州首席部长林冠英于2012年2月20日在乔治市发表声明：

虽然我已经尽力切题、避免人身攻击，国阵控制的媒体还是想为蔡细历的人身攻击漂白，他不只对我进行人身攻击，也对拿督斯里翁诗杰进行人身攻击。

虽然我在2012年2月18日“两线制会不会变成两种族制？”的辩论上尽力切题、避免人身攻击，国阵控制的媒体还是想为蔡细历的人身攻击漂白，他不只对我进行人身攻击，也对拿督斯里翁诗杰进行人身攻击。国阵控制的媒体没有指出人身攻击出自蔡细历。

如果人身攻击是成功的要点，那么，不用怀疑，蔡细历就是胜利者。然而，我已经拒绝人身攻击，因为辩论应该是交换意见、理念及原则的健康比赛。谁赢谁输应该由电视观众来决定。

还好，国阵控制的媒体企图为蔡细历针对我和翁诗杰人身攻击进行漂白的做法行不通，因为这场辩论是现场直播。这也是为何下个月与蔡细历的英文或国文辩论必须现场直播，这场就不会有人歪曲事实。

最明显的漂白例子就是马华拥有的《星报》。昨天我已经致函其集团总编辑黄振威，我不能原谅也不会接受《星报》硬硬栽赃予我的一句话：

“我们不赞同首相必须是马来人，因为我们要人民决定” （刊登于2012年2月19日星报第6版“他们说什么”）

由于《星报》 由马华拥有，我尊重他们呈现政党倾向及报道一面倒的权利。但是，他们所引述的言论是虚假、不实的，因为我在辩论期间无论什么情况之下，我都没有触及这个问题。然而《星报》没有刊登我的信，只是在今天的报章不情愿地承认错误，我对此感到遗憾。

我很惊讶，上述谎言还被《星报》专栏作者巴拉丹拿来炒作，他在今天第24页的专栏中写道“加说，林冠英说民联不同意只有马来人可以当首相，而这应该交由人民来决定。”

这不是巴拉丹第一次撒谎。他在专栏中也说我要求第二次的英文或国文辩论是为了修补我在华文辩论中严重受损的声誉。我早就在2012年2月有18日至2012年2月有15日致函要求另一场英文或国文辩论，以让那些不谙华语的观众可以理解。在第一次辩论前，蔡细历就已经答应了。

《星报》应该撤销他们的报道、为巴拉丹的专栏道歉，他的专栏并不是根据事实，追求真理的精神应该是“意见是自由的，事实是神圣的！”。

我不反对下一场的英文或国文辩论在吉隆坡时代广场同一个地点举行，由任何主办单位举行，只要他们中立、公平地对待辩论双方。不要再重复中文辩论那样由马华联办的问题，导致13道问题中，有12道是由马华安排窜场、提出尖酸问题的马华党员提问的。

我要如何在3分钟内回答上述12道问题，特别是当这些问题都是谎言时？因为我选择不回应这些谎言，辩论要根据事实以及民联要推行什么政策来改变马来西亚。我们要呈现政策让公众去评估，因为我们要政策国，而不是警察国。

林冠英

Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai,
Executive Editor / Group Chief Editor
(Pengarah Eksekutif / Ketua Pengarang Kumpulan)
The Star,
By email,

Dato Seri Wong,

FULL RETRACTION AND APOLOGY

C.P. Scott’s famous dictum of “Comment is free, but facts are sacred’ bears reminder in The Star’s coverage of the Mandarin debate yesterday between MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua and myself.

As The Star is owned by MCA, I respect the right of The Star to present a partisan slant and biased report of the proceedings. However I can neither condone nor accept when the Star invents quotes that I never said.

Under the article “What they said” in page 6 of the Star today, I was reported to have said during the debate on “Is The 2-party system becoming a 2-race system?”

“We do not agree the Prime Minister must always be Malay because we want the people to decide.”

This quote attributed to me is false and untrue because no reference whatsoever was ever made by me on this issue during the debate. As this debate was conducted in Mandarin, I would prefer to believe that this was a simple mistake in comprehension by an English newspaper, notwithstanding the Star being owned by MCA.

I would therefore request that the Star publishes a full retraction and apology for the error in a prominent section of your edition tomorrow at the same Page 6.

Yours faithfully,
LIM GUAN ENG
PENANG CHIEF MINISTER

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Should Direct His Prime Minister’s Office(PMO) To Apologise For Paying RM84 Million To Burnish The Najib Administration’s Image On Global Broadcast Networks Just As The BBC Is Apologizing For Accepting Payments In Exchange For A Positive Image For Countries With A Poor Record Of Democratic Practices And Corruption.

According to news reports, the BBC World News will today broadcast the apology “from Kuala Lumpur to Khartoum” in four time slots worldwide for having compromised its editorial integrity through programmes involved in the recent “news fixing scandal The UK daily The Independent said that FBC Media made eight pieces for the BBC about Malaysia while failing to declare it was paid £17million by the Malaysian government for “global strategic communications”.

According to The Independent, the global apology by BBC to an estimated 74 million people around the world for a news-fixing scandal is expected to read:
“A small number of programmes broadcast on BBC World News between February 2009 and July 2011 broke BBC rules aimed at protecting our editorial integrity. In the case of eight other programmes, all of which featured Malaysia, we found that the production company which made the programmes appeared to have a financial relationship with the Malaysian government. This meant there was a potential conflict of interest, though the BBC was not aware of it when the programmes were broadcast.”

According to the report, investigations into the scandal “uncovered 15 breaches of editorial guidelines” of which eight were related to FBC’s programmes on Malaysia. It is extremely shameful when the Government has to resort to such tactics worthy of African tinpot dictators in trying to whitewash its image. What’s worse, this was all done at taxpayer’s expense.

This has also been confirmed by Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak who last year admitted in a written parliamentary reply that the Government had paid RM83.8 million to media consultancy company FBC Media for the duration of three years from 2007 for “consultancy services, advice and management of a communication campaign”. This was as part of a contract between the Prime Minister’s Office and FBC Media that was signed in 2007 and renewed twice.

The BBC also used FBC to make a documentary about the spring uprising in Egypt without knowing the firm was paid to do PR work for the regime of former dictator Hosni Mubarak. Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak should direct his Prime Minister’s Office(PMO) to apologise for paying RM84 million to to burnish the Najib administration’s image on global broadcast networks just as the BBC is apologizing for accepting payments in exchange for a positive image for countries with a poor record of democratic practices and corruption.

Lim Guan Eng

—- Mandarin Translation —
民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英于2012年2月12日在吉隆坡发表声明 ：

英国广播公司BBC将针对本身节目置入行销，为民主与贪污记录恶劣的国家粉饰太平和打造正面形象的丑闻，正式道歉。拿督斯里纳吉也应该指示首相署为粉饰纳吉的官方形象而支付8400万令吉给国际广播网络而道歉。

根据新闻报道，BBC世界新闻将在今天4个时段播放题为“从吉隆坡到喀土穆”的道歉短片，为本身涉及通过播放的节目，违反编辑规范。英国《独立报》说，《独立报》指出，FBC为大马制作了8部片子，却没有公布它曾接受大马政府总值1700万英镑（或8300万令吉）的“全球策略沟通”费用的做法。
《独立报》 也说，BBC这项针对上述丑闻进行全球广播的道歉短片，估计将有7400万人可以看到：
“BBC世界新闻在2009年2月到2011年7月的一小部分广播节目违反了BBC旨在保护编辑正直的条例。在其他8个都是关于大马的节目当中，我们发现，制作该片子的公司似乎跟大马政府有金钱来往。这意味可能存在利益冲突的问题，虽然BBC在播放这些节目时并不知情。”

该报指出，调查发现，FBC关于大马的片子违反了15项编辑规范。这是极度丢脸的事，我国政府竟然要像非洲那些平庸的独裁者那样，为自己的形象“漂白”，更糟的是，政府花的是纳税人的钱。

首相拿督斯里纳吉也在去年回答国会问题的书面答复中指出，政府已经缴付8380万令吉给媒体咨询公司FBC ，自2007起进行为期三年的“咨询服务、宣传活动的建议及管理”。这便是首相署与FBC媒体之间签署的合约内容之一，于2007年签署 、更新两次。

英国广播公司也采用FBC所制作的关于埃及阿拉伯之春起义的记录片，当时，它并不知道有关公司收取前独裁者慕巴拉克的金钱、并为他服务。英国广播公司BBC将针对本身节目置入行销，为民主与贪污记录恶劣的国家粉饰太平和打造正面形象的丑闻，正式道歉。拿督斯里纳吉也应该指示首相署为粉饰纳吉的官方形象而支付8400万令吉给国际广播网络而道歉。

林冠英

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

————————————–
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.