Media blocks: Harapan-BN getting more desperate, says PAS

PAS has expressed concern over the government’s move to block certain media recently, said party deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

“Starting with the MalaysiaNow website and more recently TV Pertiwi, I see the Pakatan Harapan-BN government getting more and more desperate and worried about the wave of acceptance from the people towards Perikatan Nasional.

“We see these restrictions on media access as a desperate act that contradicts the fight of (Prime Minister) Anwar (Ibrahim) who before this always used to protest the actions of the former administration,” Tuan Ibrahim said in a statement today.

The Kubang Kerian MP said Anwar should fulfil his pledge to defend freedom of speech and press as promised in the Harapan manifesto.

Meanwhile, Tuan Ibrahim also supported the calls of senior journalists for the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) not to become a “Big Brother” that blocks online content arbitrarily.

“The time has come for the people to be enlightened and know about matters with true facts. The government should give the rakyat the opportunity to consider their options as a result of freedom of information,” he said.

On June 28, Malaysiakini reported that the MalaysiaNow news portal could not be accessed by some users and was likely blocked by certain internet service providers (ISPs).

For affected users, attempts to access the website will result in no response. The portal was, however, accessible again a day later after news of the block was reported.

On Aug 7, the government reportedly blocked access to the UtusanTV.com website for some internet users in the country.

Attempting to access the website resulted in a notice saying the website cannot be accessed in Malaysia because it violates the country’s laws.

Slightly over a week later on Aug 18, the TV Pertiwi website could not be accessed after its TikTok account was blocked.

TV Pertiwi chief operating officer Mohd Firdaus Salleh Hudin said a check through ping results to the tvpertiwi.com.my address showed that there was a DNS restriction with the data displaying MCMC’s IP address, that is 175.139.142.25.

MCMC explained that it was carrying out its duty under the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998 to prevent attempts to commit wrongdoing, especially in relation to wrong or inaccurate information.

Last week, TV Alhijrah was blocked for re-airing a programme involving former PAS minister Idris Ahmad.

The local television channel under the Islam Development Department (Jakim) aired a showing of Hijrahkan Laguku, an Islamic singing competition that was first broadcast in January 2022.

Acting as ‘Big Brother’

The programme featured Idris who at the time was the minister in charge of Islamic religious affairs in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Following these incidents, a group of senior journalists and prominent figures protested the MCMC’s actions which they described as acting as a “Big Brother”.

The group consists of Media Prima former chairperson Johan Jaaffar, veteran journalist A Kadir Jasin, Karangkraf Group Sdn Bhd owner Hussamuddin Yaacob, former Bernama general manager Azman Ujang, former chief executive officer of the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) Chamil Wariya, former Bernama editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong and Zakaria Wahab and former editor-turned-political analyst G Manimaran.

In a joint statement, they voiced their concerns that most of the content labelled as “offensive” were reports and opinions considered critical of the government.

In response to this, the MCMC reiterated that it is acting under its jurisdiction in the CMA to ensure the preservation of harmony among the people.

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