Professional journalists have asked the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to include them in consultations prior to submitting a proposed review to the government on the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA).

Padmaja Padman, co-cordinator of Inisiatif Wartawan (IW), a coalition of print and internet journalists from the English and Chinese language media, said journalists should be included in any process that affects the media.

"As one of the many parties that have been seeking to repeal the licensing provision of the PPPA, we urge the government to respond in a progressive manner and without delay," she said in a statement today.

"We also ask that the review process include consultation with journalists, as we have a direct stake in the issues."

In 1999 and 2000, she said, a two-part signature campaign across newsrooms found broad support for repeal of the licensing provision.

"In May 2003, IW submitted a memorandum to Suhakam calling for the repeal of all anti-press provisions in various laws."

Padmaja said over the years, use of powers under the PPPA and Official Secrets Act, among others, have "impinged on the ability of journalists to deliver information that is accurate and balanced".

"This has, in turn, affected public perception of our integrity and credibility not just locally, but also globally, and held back the human rights of Malaysians to press freedom, free flow of information and expression," she added.

Human right

Padmaja was responding to Suhakam chairperson Abu Talib Othman's statement yesterday reiterating previous recommendations to the government to review outdated legislation, including the PPPA.

He called for the repeal of the annual licensing provision and all others that prevent a judicial review of administrative decisions, noting that this would help improve press freedom in the country.

"The mass media is the channel between the people and the government. We need the help of the media to create human rights awareness.

"A free press is one of the human rights, namely the freedom of thought and expression."

He said judicial review was necessary because "the government is not always right (in its actions)".

He told reporters this after a human rights briefing for Selangor government officials, non-governmental organisations, community groups and individuals at the state secretariat building in Shah Alam.

Citing the ban on Singapore's Straits Times newspaper from Malaysia, he said such laws and policies need to be updated.

Under the separation agreement between Singapore and Malaysia, all sale or subscription of newspapers from either country is prohibited in the other.

"Some provisions are outdated and in this time and age of the internet and information technology, anything can be brought in from anywhere in the world."
Annual renewal

When contacted, National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president Norila Mohd Daud said the government would do well to heed Suhakam's recommendations and act on it immediately.

"We expect the government to do it and this is the right time to act, especially since Suhakam has collected the feedback from journalists and civil society groups.

"We hope Suhakam continues to push for repeal of the PPPA in particular the two provisions following the numerous requests and memorandums from various parties over the years," she told malaysiakini in a telephone interview.

She hoped that this time the recommended action will materialise.

"If not the whole Act, at least the annual renewal which threatens the business of the publisher and printer that eventually leads to self-censorship.

"Pak Lah (Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) wants citizens to be excellent but in order to achieve that, we need to have a free press so that can the people can work together with the government," she said.

"Else, the government will not know what the public is going through. A free press will promote greater transparency, accountability and good governance."

'Not hopeful'

Nexnews Berhad group editor-in-chief Ho Kay Tat, contacted in Singapore, said like all journalists and newspaper editors, he would "definitely want" to see the specific provisions repealed.

"I support Suhakam's recommendations and would be very happy if the provisions are repealed. At the same time, we can't use the provisions as a reason not to do our best given the circumstances," he said.

Ho said while he wanted it to happen, he was "not hopeful".

"I don't wake up in the morning thinking about this (matter) because the work has to go on.

"The reality is that newspaper companies have gone under more for commercial than political reasons. Therefore, survival remains their main concern," he added.

Senior management and editors at the New Straits Times (M) Press Bhd and Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd were unavailable for comments.