'Saving journalists' - the theme for World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) this year - has relevance in the Malaysian context in view of incidents over the past year.

Saying it is important to raise awareness of the conditions under which journalists work here and in other parts of the world, Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) executive director Sonia Randhawa pointed out that many risk their lives in the course of work.

"From January 1992 up to last August, 580 journalists were killed in the line of duty," she said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

"In Malaysia, a Merdeka Review journalist was beaten up last year while covering a protest against the toll hike, while a Sin Chew Daily reporter was assaulted when covering a crime-related case."

She further claimed that a Burmese journalist had been abducted by the Malaysian police although the police have denied the allegation.

The public, she said, must also understand that their interests are strongly connected to a free press.

Activities in Central Market

In this context, the CIJ will join hands with malaysiakini and TroubadoursKL in activities that promote free expression in conjunction with WPFD, observed worldwide on May 3 annually.

Activities such as theater performances, concerts, poetry readings, screening of films and art workshops will be held at the Central Market in Kuala Lumpur from May 5 -6.

These will feature artistes like Shanon Shah, Azmyl Yunor, Tan Sei Hon, Pak Pandir and Carburetor Dung.

ComeBack Kings, a comedy group from Taylor's College, Kajang Cultural Group and Komuniti Anak Seni Kampung Berembang will also take to the stage, while cartoonist Zunar will talk about satire in cartoons.

"We will let them decide what they want to perform and what message that they want to convey to the public, the choice is theirs," noted Randhawa.

Also present today were Phoon Chi Ho representing the ComeBack Kings, TroubadoursKL artistic director Tan Sei Hon and malaysiakini business development manager See Tho Chee Seong.