Journalists in the country are concerned about the unprecedented attacks on the press covering the recent Bersih 3.0 rally.
KUALA
LUMPUR: Black colour and yellow ribbons marked a media protest
organised by online news portal Malaysiakini outside its premises in
conjunction with the World Press Freedom Day today.
The protest was held as a result of unprecedented attacks against
members of the press and the confiscation of their equipment by the
police while covering the Bersih 3.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
The protest was led by Malaysiakini editor-in-chief, Fathi Aris Omar, who had three demands.
“We demand that all the cuprits be brought to trial in an open court
after an independent panel investigates the violence during the rally.
“We urge all parties to return the seized press materials in their
original unaltered condition to the respective journalists at their
respective press organisations and to compensate for any injuries and
damage caused to the journalists and their property.
“We urge all parties including the government, the authorities and
civil society groups not to repeat attacks against the journalists,”
Fathi told journalists present.
The first demand is in line with National Union of Journalists’ (NUJ)
call for an independent panel of investigation and has received the
green light from Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
FMT and other news organisations that covered the event also participated in the protest assembly.
Besides the journalists, Annie Ooi, better known as Aunty Bersih, was there to show her support.
An NGO called Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia was also there in solidarity with the media fraternity.
FMT’s editor-in-chief, K Kabilan, in his message, said: “We have
joined this Malaysiakini-organised protest as we support press freedom
and we want to express our dismay over the assaults on journalists
during the Bersih rally.”
“We are also worried with the manner politicians and corporations are
making use of the court processes to silence us,” he added.
“We are equally concerned with the arrays of legislation available for the authorities against the media,” said Kabilan.
His comments came in the wake of a suit by Lynas Corporation’s
against FMT and the recent amendments to the Printing Presses and
Publishing Act.
Kabilan also said that media can play a positive role in the growth of Malaysia if it is not suppressed.
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