35 LAWS STIFLE MEDIA FREEDOM
Vital to repeal or amend them, says Malaysiakini’s Steven Gan
THE government has to abolish or amend 35 laws that impinge on media freedom following the 14th General Election. The process could take more than five years due to the political landscape, said Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan.
He said the laws included the Anti-Fake News, Official Secrets, Sedition, Printing Presses and Publications and the Communications and Multimedia Acts.
“The laws impinge on media freedom. There is a need to repeal or amend them. The (proposed) media council is not getting anywhere as the previous government was not serious on proposals to repeal or amend the laws.
“Until you remove them, there is no need to talk about setting up a media council.”
He was speaking at a forum titled “Media Reforms: Opportunities and Challenges for Malaysia, Lessons from Southeast Asia” here yesterday.
The forum discussed whether there was a need for a media council like the one in Indonesia, which regulated the media.
Gan said it was more important to deal with the laws first to prevent stifling of media coverage.
He said Malaysia’s media freedom differed from Indonesia’s following the political revolution that ousted Suharto in 1998.
He said unlike Indonesia, which had new leaders helming the administration following the revolution there, Malaysia had the same politicians coming into power.
He alluded to concerns about certain parts of the new administration, such as Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whom he said had conceded to the need for media freedom, while also saying there was a need for media control.
“Institutional reform promised by him (Dr Mahathir) is key.
“If institutions here, like the Election Commission, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the judiciary, police and media, can be strengthened like in Indonesia, then we will be on the right track (to boost media freedom).
“Even if new people come into power (in future general elections), they won’t inflict too much damage on media freedom.”
Gan said the government and stakeholders needed to address the issue of media freedom carefully as there was a need to reach consensus in a country with diverse faiths and ethnicities.
He said consensus could be reached over a period of time via traditional and new media acting as platforms for discussions and debates on issues.
Panellists of the forum included The Jakarta Post editor-inchief and Indonesia Press Council member Nezar Patria, Maw kun editor and Myanmar Press Council exco member Zayar Hlaing and Southeast Asian Press Alliance executive director Tess Bacalla.