Zam to weigh malaysiakinis request for press cards
Published: Mar 12, 2001 3:48 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
translation The government will relook into malaysiakini's application for press accreditation, which was rejected last year, according to Information Ministry parliamentary secretary Zainuddin Maidin.
In a meeting at his office this morning, Zainuddin urged the online paper to write "more balanced news reports" and to lessen its criticisms towards the government.
"We are not asking malaysiakini to be supportive of the government. But malaysiakini's reporting style conveys an impression like that of the foreign media," he said, referring to two articles on the website.
One article criticised the implementation of the national language policy, allegedly written by former DAP parliamentarian, James Wong Wing On, and another criticised government policies on press freedom, written by malaysiakini news editor Fathi Aris Omar.
However, the web-based daily's managing editor Steven Gan contended that malaysiakini was unable to provide the government's view because it could not get comments from the authorities anyway.
"We find it hard to get statements from the police and senior government officials and we have been barred from official press conferences many times,"said Gan.
Nevertheless, Zainuddin stated that some journalists from other newspapers who have yet to obtain their press tags were still allowed to report official functions.
The ex-veteran journalist, formerly with Utusan Malaysia, also defended the government's position, claiming that it practises press freedom to some extent.
Last April, the Information Ministry's deputy director of the press and public relations Department Razali Aziz said that web-based media companies needed to get publication permits from the Home Ministry before they can be given press tags.
He explained thus after the ministry rejected malaysiakini's press accreditation application on April 17 last year.
Legal action
However, Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin told malaysiakini a day later that his ministry has not formulated any guideline or policy concerning the matter.
"The Home Ministry will only issue a permit to something that can be physically held, carried and distributed, but the Internet (content) is different," he told malaysiakini when approached in the Parliament lobby.
In the hour-long meeting at the Information Ministry, both parties also discussed the issue of national broadcaster RTM's report that alleged Gan of receiving an International Press Freedom award for writing a false report on the deaths of immigrants detained at a camp in Semenyih, Selangor.
Malaysiakini urged RTM to either clarify or explain the untrue report. According to Gan, the RTM report referred to a separate case that happened at the same place but a different time. (Demonising Malaysiakini, Feb 16)
Its chief executive officer (CEO) Premesh Chandran who was also present at the meeting said that malaysiakini would take into consideration the meeting today before initiating legal action.
Zainuddin said that he would also study the issues raised.
In a meeting at his office this morning, Zainuddin urged the online paper to write "more balanced news reports" and to lessen its criticisms towards the government.
"We are not asking malaysiakini to be supportive of the government. But malaysiakini's reporting style conveys an impression like that of the foreign media," he said, referring to two articles on the website.
One article criticised the implementation of the national language policy, allegedly written by former DAP parliamentarian, James Wong Wing On, and another criticised government policies on press freedom, written by malaysiakini news editor Fathi Aris Omar.
However, the web-based daily's managing editor Steven Gan contended that malaysiakini was unable to provide the government's view because it could not get comments from the authorities anyway.
"We find it hard to get statements from the police and senior government officials and we have been barred from official press conferences many times,"said Gan.
Nevertheless, Zainuddin stated that some journalists from other newspapers who have yet to obtain their press tags were still allowed to report official functions.
The ex-veteran journalist, formerly with Utusan Malaysia, also defended the government's position, claiming that it practises press freedom to some extent.
Last April, the Information Ministry's deputy director of the press and public relations Department Razali Aziz said that web-based media companies needed to get publication permits from the Home Ministry before they can be given press tags.
He explained thus after the ministry rejected malaysiakini's press accreditation application on April 17 last year.
Legal action
However, Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin told malaysiakini a day later that his ministry has not formulated any guideline or policy concerning the matter.
"The Home Ministry will only issue a permit to something that can be physically held, carried and distributed, but the Internet (content) is different," he told malaysiakini when approached in the Parliament lobby.
In the hour-long meeting at the Information Ministry, both parties also discussed the issue of national broadcaster RTM's report that alleged Gan of receiving an International Press Freedom award for writing a false report on the deaths of immigrants detained at a camp in Semenyih, Selangor.
Malaysiakini urged RTM to either clarify or explain the untrue report. According to Gan, the RTM report referred to a separate case that happened at the same place but a different time. (Demonising Malaysiakini, Feb 16)
Its chief executive officer (CEO) Premesh Chandran who was also present at the meeting said that malaysiakini would take into consideration the meeting today before initiating legal action.
Zainuddin said that he would also study the issues raised.
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