Ministry keeps Makkal, Oriental in suspense over permits

source

Thursday, 21 February 2008

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is concerned that two dailies, Makkal Osai and Oriental Daily, seen to be critical newspapers, have not received their publication permits for 2008 from the Internal Security Ministry. The denial of permit is a source of pressure on the media, seen in the recent departure from their usual critical and fair reporting.

A check by CIJ with the Internal Security Ministry confirmed that the permits for both dailies lapsed in December last year and have not been approved by the ministry’s outgoing deputy minister, Fu Ah Kiow. On Feb 15, online news site Malaysiakini.com reported that the editor of the Chinese language Oriental Daily issued a “guideline” to its reporters on covering the opposition parties during election. Among others, reporters were asked not to give coverage to the opposition’s mission to deny the two-third majority of the incumbent ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional; not to place opposition news in the main or front section; not to raise contentious issues of the Chinese community such as the Chinese schools; and to edit out speeches by the opposition that were inflammatory.

This is the third time Oriental Daily has been in a limbo. In 2006 the permit was not renewed until May after several vocal columns were stopped. In 2002, its permit was suspended from September until December.

Tamil language daily Makkal Osai ran into frequent troubles with the ruling Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), who has reportedly lobbied hard for the paper to be stopped mainly because of its coverage on two issues with political dimension – the Maika shareholdings issue and the apparent suicide of Indian actress Sujatha Krishnan. When contacted by CIJ, S.M Periasamy, general manager of Makkal Osai said the paper has received warnings from unidentified callers that the issues should be stopped. The paper was also suspended in August 2007 for publishing an image of Jesus Christ with a cigarette and a can of drink, after public calls for the paper to close down were made by the MIC president president S. Samy Vellu and the party’s youth arm.

CIJ’s monitoring on Makkal Osai”s coverage for the election reveal that the paper has became more supportive of Barisan Nasional, joining the usual trend of mainstream papers toeing the caretaker government’s line.

We are concerned that the requirement for a publication permit has been effective in silencing critical voices and controlling any attempt for editorial independence. By delaying approval but allowing the paper to continue operating using lapsed permits, the caretaker government is putting the papers at its mercy and sending a signal to their owners to be compliant.

CIJ strongly disagree with such intimidation and we call for the Printing Presses and Publications Act, which requires the licensing of 2publications, to be repealed. It is clear that the law is being used as an instrument to curb the growth of dissent and media independence.

The Centre for Independent Journalism, Malaysia (CIJ) aspires for a society that is democratic, just and free, where all people enjoy free media and the freedom to express, seek, and impart information.

Ends

Issued by

Gayathry Venkiteswaran
Executive Director

For more information, please contact Wai Fong at 03 40230772

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