Media access: EC can advise, not compel

The Election Commission (EC) said it regularly reminds media organisations to give equal access to all parties contesting in elections but cannot compel them.

EC deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said that as far as RTM goes, the commission had approached the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry but to no avail.

He said that the ministry is of the opinion that RTM should only serve as a channel for disseminating government policy.

"The information ministry and RTM are the official channels where the government disseminates the correct information to the people. That is the responsibility of the government.

"Whoever becomes the government, I'm sure, they would do the same," Wan Ahmad (right) told reporters on the sidelines of a forum in Kuala Lumpur.

Wan Ahmad said that Malaysia should not be compared with other countries, including neighbouring countries, in terms of fair election coverage by government-owned media outlets, prompting the following exchange:

Reporter: Its not the same in other countries sir.

Wan Ahmad: Don't compare with other countries.

Reporter: Why not?

Wan Ahmad: If you compare with other countries, susah la.

Reporter: Singapore also allows opposition to...

Wan Ahmad: But...

Reporter: ...Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines...

Wan Ahmad: No... let me say...

Reporter: They are supposed to be backward countries but they seem to be more open in this regard.

Wan Ahmad: We are talking to the government. This is what the EC can do. We are talking to the government about the concerns of the NGOs and civil societies about this.

He insisted that the EC's dialogue with RTM and the Information Ministry had borne fruit, citing RTM's coverage during the Sarawak state election campaign in April.

"I notice that RTM now, is a little bit changed in their approach, in their coverage of the Sarawak election," he said.

He said EC would continue engaging media organisations but there is little that can be done where the private sector is concerned.

EC hamstrung about mainstream media

"The mainstream press don't belong to the EC. If the shareholders are associated with the government, there is nothing the EC can do.

"I cannot force TV3 to give more air time to the prime minister or the BN. I don't own TV3. EC doesn't own TV3. Similarly I cannot force Harakah, Rocket or Suara Keadilan or whatever blog to say anything," he said.

He said that the Malaysian media is free to support any group, citing how foreign newspapers support particular parties.

"Don't just channel your mind towards saying ‘government wrong wrong wrong'. You (can see) the Washington Post. They campaign for Democrats probably. Republicans didn't complain," he said.

Equal access to media coverage is among Bersih 2.0's eight demands for electoral reforms.

The group is scheduled to hold a mass rally in Kuala Lumpur on July 9 to create awareness and pressure the authorities to improve the electoral process.

Wan Ahmad was speaking to reporters after speaking for about two hours at a special public forum titled ‘Bersih's demands - what is the Election Commission's explanation?'.

The forum was organised by Institut Perkembangan Minda (Inmind) and attended by about 500 people, including representative from Malay rights pressure group Perkasa, Perkasa Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GMPS), pro-Umno bloggers and Jemaah Islah Malaysia.

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