Campaigns to call for the repeal of restrictive information laws and actions to enable journalists to function as the public watchdog will be at the top of the agenda of the National Union Journalists' (NUJ) Biennial Delegates Conference (BDC) on Sunday.

About 50 delegates representing the six chapters of the union are expected to attend the meeting, which will set the direction for actions over the next two years.

These union leaders and branch representatives will vote on the motions submitted, which include several from the union headquarters as well as three of its chapters.

The NUJ has 1,400 members nationwide, with the largest membership being in Utusan Malaysia and the New Straits Times groups.

Call for conducive environment

One of the motions to be tabled by the NUJ headquarters states that the union will "continuously demand" for the repeal of the Official Secrets Act 1972 and the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

In addition, it will call for media owners not to be "overwhelmed by dictates of big business or politics" so as to create a conducive environment for journalists to operate as the public watchdog.

Additional motions have been submitted by the union's chapters in the New Straits Times, The Star and Utusan Malaysia.

All three branches are in favour of the union taking a bigger and more active role in the running of the proposed media council. The NUJ-Utusan branch will ask for more than two union representatives to be appointed to the council, should it be set up.

The NUJ-Star branch is calling for a review of the rules and constitution of the NUJ in Peninsular Malaysia, to reflect "changing media conditions" in the country.

Only one post contested

Meanwhile, the union will also hold national-level elections this weekend. Only the general secretary's post will see a straight contest between the incumbent Hong Boon How and S Ramaguru, The Star branch chairperson.

Office bearers for all other posts have been returned unopposed, including union president Norila Mohd Daud. At the last BDC, three posts had been contested.

When contacted, Hong said he would defend his post to ensure continuity in union activities so that members' rights can be better protected.

"I take the cue from members when deciding whether or not to defend my post," he said.

Asked if the challenge to his position could be due to dissatisfaction among some members over the NUJ's weak campaigning for press freedom, Hong said he was in a "difficult position" to comment.

"All actions of the union are a result of collective decision-making of members of the executive council," he explained.

Hong was also asked to comment on the exco's recent decision to grant associate membership and not full membership to online journalists.

"This is because online journalists have not set up their respective branches. When a branch is set up, then we will come in to negotiate a collective agreement," he said, adding that each chapter requires a minimum of 15 members.

Hong declined to elaborate further on his election platform, saying that contestants are not allowed to speak to the press under the union's constitution.

"I cannot say more because I do not want to be seen as campaigning using malaysiakini," he added.

'Communication gap'

Ramaguru, meanwhile, pledged to improve communications between the headquarters and members so as to revive confidence towards the NUJ.

"There is a communication gap between the branch and the headquarters. If you ask too many questions or if they cannot answer your questions, they brand you a rebel. With this kind of attitude, members (either) become loners or they (have to) fight the leadership," he said.

Ramaguru said he would not be deterred even if he were the only person fighting to change the way that union leadership has been working.

"We need to make a start and show that we can make a difference," he said of his decision to challenge the post alone without taking his own "team" into the exco.

He also said there was a need to standardise all collective agreements so that union leaders could represent members more effectively.

"At the moment, each branch negotiates a separate collective organisation. Salary scales are different from one branch to another," he noted.

Asked about his chances, Ramaguru said although he expects to "sweep" the votes of his branch members, his chances at the national level election are "not good".

"This is based on the trend of voting in other organisations, particularly the Chinese press," he added.