PAS MP slams government's double standards by comparing Utusan Malaysia and Harakah.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Rantau Panjang MP Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff today accused the government of being selective when applying restrictions on media freedom.
Claiming that Utusan Malaysia as the government’s mouthpiece, was subjected to far less restrictions compared to other media, she asked why the paper was allowed to “continually publish seditious and provocative material”.
Driving home her point, she questioned, “Were there ever any sedition charges against Utusan? No.
“But it’s allowed for circulation daily here in Malaysia, but Harakah is only allowed to be published twice a week?”
Furthering her argument she said, “This is proof that there’s no media freedom in Malaysia, as claimed by the Minister of Communication and Multimedia.”
Siti Zailah also claimed that media freedom was crucial in moving towards developed nation status.
Minister of Communication and Multimedia, Ahmad Shabery Cheek responded by clarifying that the Printing Presses and Publications Act was under the home ministry and entailed a whole different set of rules and laws altogether.
The heated debate ensued after MP for Tanjong Karang, Noh Haji Omar brought up the issue of media freedom to Ahmad Shabery in Parliament this morning.
Noh was concerned that media freedom in Malaysia was being violated with the spread of information that went beyond acceptable limits.
KUALA LUMPUR: Rantau Panjang MP Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff today accused the government of being selective when applying restrictions on media freedom.
Claiming that Utusan Malaysia as the government’s mouthpiece, was subjected to far less restrictions compared to other media, she asked why the paper was allowed to “continually publish seditious and provocative material”.
Driving home her point, she questioned, “Were there ever any sedition charges against Utusan? No.
“But it’s allowed for circulation daily here in Malaysia, but Harakah is only allowed to be published twice a week?”
Furthering her argument she said, “This is proof that there’s no media freedom in Malaysia, as claimed by the Minister of Communication and Multimedia.”
Siti Zailah also claimed that media freedom was crucial in moving towards developed nation status.
Minister of Communication and Multimedia, Ahmad Shabery Cheek responded by clarifying that the Printing Presses and Publications Act was under the home ministry and entailed a whole different set of rules and laws altogether.
The heated debate ensued after MP for Tanjong Karang, Noh Haji Omar brought up the issue of media freedom to Ahmad Shabery in Parliament this morning.
Noh was concerned that media freedom in Malaysia was being violated with the spread of information that went beyond acceptable limits.
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