Kedah assembly off limits to some journalists

A number of media organisations, including Malaysiakini, have been banned from entering the Kedah state assembly this morning to cover its budget session which kicks off today.

According to Muhamad Helmi Mohamad Khalid, the Kedah menteri besar’s press secretary, the ban was due to the media’s negative coverage on the recent floods in the state.

Only journalists from English daily Star, PAS organ Harakah, Malay daily Sinar Harian, Tamil dailies Makkal Osai and Malaysian Nanban, Chinese dailies Sin Chew, Kwong Wah, China Press, Nanyang Siang Pau, Guang Ming and national news agency Bernama were allowed into the assembly to cover the three-day budget debate.

Helmi had on Nov 11 issued a circular which was faxed to the bureau chiefs of all print and electronic media organisations based in Alor Setar. It complained of news coverage being manipulated by certain quarters against the PAS-led state government.

Mohamad Yusoff Ahmad, a guard outside the state assembly, said he could not allow anyone not on Helmi’s list to enter the building.

“I’m only following orders,” he said sheepishly.

Journalist Samat Majid from state-owned RTM was escorted out of the building after he managed to get in earlier.

Berita Harian journalist Rahmat Othman, who has been reporting on Kedah for 16 years, said that this was the first time he and others were barred from the assembly.

MB angered by RTM

It is speculated that the state's heavy-handed approach towards the media was prompted by MB Azizan Abdul Razak, who was visibly angered by RTM journalist Samad earlier this week.

TV3 had reported several days ago that Azizan had reprimanded Samad during a press conference after the state executive councillor's meeting on Wednesday, when he had asked the MB a question on the floods in the state.

While it is unclear what his question was, Azizan was seen scolding Samad saying, “You rude RTM reporter, in future when you work, work the Islamic way”, before storming out.

It triggered a whirlwind of nasty postings against Samad on several pro-Pakatan blogs, prompting the journalist to lodge a police report yesterday claiming that he was being “threatened on the Internet".

 No response from Azizan

Meanwhile, Malaysiakini failed to obtain a response from Azizan or Helmi regarding the media ban despite repeated calls and SMSes.

At one point, Azizan (right) did retrieve his phone call, only to say "I am very busy, I am at a meeting".

Former Kedah menteri besar Mahadzir Khalid, when met after the morning session, said the press should be allowed in to report the sultan's speech which ended about 11am.

He said the rakyat was waiting to hear what the sultan has to say but unfortunately most of the media was banned.

"I am disappointed and regret this action by the PAS government, it has never happened before," he told reporters outside the building.

"This is a parliamentary democracy. The media should be allowed to cover the sultan's speech," he added.

"It is the right of the sultan to be heard as well," he stressed.

Mahadzir criticised the PAS-led Pakatan Rakyat government, and likened it to a military regime, as in Burma.

He said Umno had protested the matter earlier but their plea to the state to allow reporters to attend the proceedings were ignored.

"We will discuss among our friends in umno and see how we can protest this matter further," he added.

Kedah Gerakan Youth wing chief Tan Keng Liang said he came to the assembly to see the situation for himself.

He said the budget Azizan presented this afternoon was very important and all media should be allowed to report it.

"I also want to see if this budget has any allocation for the flood victims," Tan told reporters outside Wisma Darul Aman, which houses the state assembly.

"I wanted to hear the budget because I want to see if the allocation is enough, the government must give them more help. They cannot be ignored," he added.

Tan said the PAS government must be open to criticism and accept other opinions.