KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today urged the government to abolish media licensing in the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 by setting up a National Media Council to handle the industry.
The Rembau MP said it was high time for the government consider either amending or abolishing the law due to the increasing popularity of alternative media channels.
“Let the issue of licensing be handled by an independent body like in the UK whereby the media themselves regulate the industry.
“I think this is advisable for the government so that credibility (in the media) is viewed more positiviely,” Khairy said during Question Time in parliament today.
In 2008 former Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar announced through the press that the council would be set up for the purpose of identifying weaknesses in the media.
He said that the purpose of the council would help to ensure accurate reporting.
He had earlier also asked the Information, Communication and Culture Ministry on the status of the formation of the council.
Deputy minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum in his reply to the House, however, deflected the question of abolishment, saying it was under the purview of the Home Affairs Ministry and said the formation of the council had been deferred.
“My ministry is of the opinion that the formation of such a council would indeed help the government and our country indirectly in regulating the content in online media.
“The formation of the council has, however, been delayed for the committee, represented by numerous media practitioners, are still finalising the details,” he said.
In a supplementary question, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor) asked the ministry to explain why the Kelantan and Selangor governments had failed to obtain licences to operate their own radio stations.
“In Kelantan, even after 20 years, the application for these licences failed,” he pointed out.
He said that whether or not the issue of licensing came under the PPPA or the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, it was most important that at the end of the day, the people were given their democratic rights to information sources.
“The question now is whether the PPPA is more victimising the applicants for these licences... No wrong is yet committed but already they are not granted the licences.
“This is something that clearly disrupt the practice of democracy in the new media.
“Is the ministry ready to look at this issue more holistically by reviewing these repressive acts governing the new media?” he said.
Joseph Salang replied that the ministry had always been open-minded on the issue but was unaware of the application from the Selangor and Kelantan governments for radio licences.
“The Selangor Mentri Besar can contact my ministry directly,” he said.
MI
14/06/10
The Rembau MP said it was high time for the government consider either amending or abolishing the law due to the increasing popularity of alternative media channels.
“Let the issue of licensing be handled by an independent body like in the UK whereby the media themselves regulate the industry.
“I think this is advisable for the government so that credibility (in the media) is viewed more positiviely,” Khairy said during Question Time in parliament today.
In 2008 former Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar announced through the press that the council would be set up for the purpose of identifying weaknesses in the media.
He said that the purpose of the council would help to ensure accurate reporting.
He had earlier also asked the Information, Communication and Culture Ministry on the status of the formation of the council.
Deputy minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum in his reply to the House, however, deflected the question of abolishment, saying it was under the purview of the Home Affairs Ministry and said the formation of the council had been deferred.
“My ministry is of the opinion that the formation of such a council would indeed help the government and our country indirectly in regulating the content in online media.
“The formation of the council has, however, been delayed for the committee, represented by numerous media practitioners, are still finalising the details,” he said.
In a supplementary question, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor) asked the ministry to explain why the Kelantan and Selangor governments had failed to obtain licences to operate their own radio stations.
“In Kelantan, even after 20 years, the application for these licences failed,” he pointed out.
He said that whether or not the issue of licensing came under the PPPA or the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, it was most important that at the end of the day, the people were given their democratic rights to information sources.
“The question now is whether the PPPA is more victimising the applicants for these licences... No wrong is yet committed but already they are not granted the licences.
“This is something that clearly disrupt the practice of democracy in the new media.
“Is the ministry ready to look at this issue more holistically by reviewing these repressive acts governing the new media?” he said.
Joseph Salang replied that the ministry had always been open-minded on the issue but was unaware of the application from the Selangor and Kelantan governments for radio licences.
“The Selangor Mentri Besar can contact my ministry directly,” he said.
MI
14/06/10
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