‘PH will uphold press freedom’

Kit Siang: Closing TV3 is not our policy

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP and Pakatan Harapan have assured the people that it will uphold press freedom and that asking for the closure of TV3 is neither the party’s nor the coalition’s policy.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said the party’s Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer had explained that he was venting his personal frustrations at how TV3 had allegedly vilified the Penang government and the chief minister for the last 10 years but said he would abide by the DAP and Pakatan Harapan’s policy on press freedom.

“DAP and Pakatan Harapan leaders must set the tone for a new Malaysia, where there will be no place for vengeance and settling of scores, unless the law has been broken,” he said in a statement posted on his blog on Friday night.

Lim said this in response to comments slamming Rayer for saying on his Facebook page that TV3 should be shut down.

The comments slammed Rayer for behaving like the previous Barisan Nasional leaders.

“We must be aware and conscious of the exhilarating sense of freedom in the air felt by Malaysians at the historic results of the GE on May 9 giving Malaysians a second chance to re-set nation-building policies and directions after a long night of repression.

“I believe top on the agenda of the Pakatan Harapan government is to ensure press freedom in the country, and I suggest that one of the first acts of the 14th Parliament must be the repeal of the Anti-Fake News Act, and the initiation of a consultation process with journalist and press organisations and NGOs as to how we can ensure press freedom in Malaysia,” Lim said.