NGOs launch 'free press' campaign
Leong Kar YenPublished: Jan 10, 2001 9:51 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
A group of non-governmental organisations will launch a campaign to protest against the recent banning of three popular publications, Eksklusif, Detik and Al-Wasilah.
"We believe that the action of revoking their publication licenses is a move by the ruling party to further its political agenda to suppress the voices of critics and dissidents," said People's Manifesto Initiative (PMI) spokesperson Irene Xavier today.
PMI, a coalition of 12 NGOs, is planning a "week of protest" starting on Monday.
It will send out letters to the Home Ministry and the National Human Rights Commission and calling on its members to mobilise friends and supporters overseas to join in the campaign.
Since 1998, the three periodicals which were published in Malay, have been instrumental in providing a "very critical, independent and alternative information and analysis of various developments", said Irene.
The publications, whose publishing permits were not renewed this year, had called for a greater level of democracy in Malaysia, therefore earning them the reputation of being "thorns in the side of the Malaysian government".
PMI also raised its objection to the Printing Presses and Publications Act and how other "draconian" laws such as Official Secrets Act and Internal Security Act have stifled the voice of the free press in Malaysia.
The Act essentially empowers the Home Affairs Ministry to revoke any publication permit and its decision cannot be challenged in court, which shows a lack of accountability and transparency on the part of the ministry, Irene said.
"We do not see any need for any permit to publish and print ... the silencing of critical voices and instilling fear in people will eventually lead to the flourishing of more corruption, nepotism and cronyism that is besetting this country," she added.
"This has resulted in the further impoverishment of marginalised and poor people whose livelihood has been threatened by the many mega-projects that are being carried out by the crony capitalists of the government."
Members of PMI includes Suaram, Ex-ISA Detainees Group, Malaysian Graduates Council and Women's Candidacy Initiative.
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"We believe that the action of revoking their publication licenses is a move by the ruling party to further its political agenda to suppress the voices of critics and dissidents," said People's Manifesto Initiative (PMI) spokesperson Irene Xavier today.
PMI, a coalition of 12 NGOs, is planning a "week of protest" starting on Monday.
It will send out letters to the Home Ministry and the National Human Rights Commission and calling on its members to mobilise friends and supporters overseas to join in the campaign.
Since 1998, the three periodicals which were published in Malay, have been instrumental in providing a "very critical, independent and alternative information and analysis of various developments", said Irene.
The publications, whose publishing permits were not renewed this year, had called for a greater level of democracy in Malaysia, therefore earning them the reputation of being "thorns in the side of the Malaysian government".
PMI also raised its objection to the Printing Presses and Publications Act and how other "draconian" laws such as Official Secrets Act and Internal Security Act have stifled the voice of the free press in Malaysia.
The Act essentially empowers the Home Affairs Ministry to revoke any publication permit and its decision cannot be challenged in court, which shows a lack of accountability and transparency on the part of the ministry, Irene said.
"We do not see any need for any permit to publish and print ... the silencing of critical voices and instilling fear in people will eventually lead to the flourishing of more corruption, nepotism and cronyism that is besetting this country," she added.
"This has resulted in the further impoverishment of marginalised and poor people whose livelihood has been threatened by the many mega-projects that are being carried out by the crony capitalists of the government."
Members of PMI includes Suaram, Ex-ISA Detainees Group, Malaysian Graduates Council and Women's Candidacy Initiative.
Previous story
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