KUALA LUMPUR – The government has not arrested any journalists or permanently closed down any news outlets as it remains committed to upholding improved press freedom standards, said Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai-PH).
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Fahmi said that no party can deny how the media is currently afforded a higher level of freedom of speech with a reduction in restrictions imposed by previous administrations.
“Throughout the time Tambun (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has governed the nation, not a single reporter has been detained by authorities, nor has any newspaper (organisation) been shut down.
“There are no such actions. It cannot be denied that the media is now more open. That is the government’s and (Anwar’s) commitment, and the ministry will remain dedicated to it,” Fahmi said during his winding-up speech on the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review.
The minister said this in response to a joint statement issued by several veteran journalists last month asserting that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is playing “big brother” by “injudiciously” blocking online media content.
The statement followed MCMC’s censure and enforcement against private news agency TV Pertiwi over six articles that breached the 3R (race, religion, and royalty) boundaries.
Scoop had previously reported that the headlines for several of TV Pertiwi’s articles, which caused its suspension, appeared to directly target DAP, with some stories claiming that the Pakatan Harapan component party is touting a “Christianisation and liberalisation agenda”.
A separate story supposedly took aim at DAP stalwart Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang by asserting that he was awarded the “Tan Sri” title in June “without merit”, while another article featured PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Abdul Awang’s statement on how DAP is “continuing attempts to eradicate Malay supremacy”.
Despite this, TV Pertiwi chief operating officer Mohd Firdaus Salleh Hudin told Scoop that the broadcaster is standing by its content, claiming “fair comment”.
TV Pertiwi is registered to Kerengga Merah Sdn Bhd, a 5-year-old company owned by individuals associated with the ultra-conservative non-governmental organisation Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia.
It was reported last month that the ban on TV Pertiwi’s original TikTok account, issued by the platform provider, was due to the organisation’s repeated violations of TikTok’s community guidelines by continuously spreading harmful misinformation.
Subsequently, on August 18, Firdaus lodged a police report regarding the block on its website and TikTok account, arguing that the matter is important as it involves Article 10 of the federal constitution regarding freedom of speech and expression.
On the same day, MCMC said actions taken against TV Pertiwi were to assess whether any offences were committed under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, adding that it remains steadfast in fulfilling its duty under the act. – September 19, 2023