Malaysiakini Barred From Covering Umno General Assembly Again.
The following report from Malaysiakini:
As in previous years, malaysiakini journalists have been barred from covering the upcoming Umno general assembly .
The reason? Journalists from the seven-year-old online website do not have the government’s press accreditation cards issued by the Information Ministry.
When contacted today, Umno media dan public relation unit head Hafizah Abu Bakar said the party will only issue media passes to journalists with official accreditation cards.
“If you have the accreditation card, then you will be issued the media pass to cover the Umno general assembly,” she said. “(Without the card) I would not able to assist you... I only follow the party’s directive.”
The official media tag is issued through state news agency Bernama to journalists and media organisations recognised by the government. All journalists from the print and electronic media as well as foreign correspondents have to carry the accreditation cards to enable them to cover official events.
In applying for the official pass, local media organisations must have publishing permits issued by the Internal Security Ministry.
Malaysiakini is caught in a Catch-22 situation - as an Internet media organisation, it is not subjected to the publishing permit regime; but without the permit, it cannot apply for the official media accreditation.
Attempts by malaysiakini to apply for the official press tag from Bernama has been rejected previously on similar grounds.
‘We’ll be there’
This is not the first time that malaysiakini is barred from covering the Umno assembly as it has been a recurring situation over the past few years.
Nevertheless, malaysiakini journalists were able to cover the event last year despite not being allowed into the main hall where Umno delegates held their meeting.
On Nov 13 when the four-day Umno general assembly kicks off, malaysiakini journalists will again be at the Putra World Trade Centre to cover the function.
“We’ll be there despite the ban,” said editor-in-chief Steven Gan.
“Our journalists were invited to cover functions of all other Barisan Nasional parties, including MCA, Gerakan and MIC. There’s no reason why we should be barred from the Umno general assembly.”
The ruling Umno began actively banning malaysiakini soon after the online media exposed the illegal logging by Umno Pahang of a vast swath of peat swamp forests in the state three years ago.
The logging occurred during then Umno secretary-general Khalil Yaacob’s watch when he was Pahang mentri besar. It is believed that Khalil had issued a party directive that malaysiakini journalists be barred from covering all Umno functions, including its supreme council meetings and general assemblies. Khalil, who has since retired from politics, is currently Malacca’s governor.
As in previous years, malaysiakini journalists have been barred from covering the upcoming Umno general assembly .
The reason? Journalists from the seven-year-old online website do not have the government’s press accreditation cards issued by the Information Ministry.
When contacted today, Umno media dan public relation unit head Hafizah Abu Bakar said the party will only issue media passes to journalists with official accreditation cards.
“If you have the accreditation card, then you will be issued the media pass to cover the Umno general assembly,” she said. “(Without the card) I would not able to assist you... I only follow the party’s directive.”
The official media tag is issued through state news agency Bernama to journalists and media organisations recognised by the government. All journalists from the print and electronic media as well as foreign correspondents have to carry the accreditation cards to enable them to cover official events.
In applying for the official pass, local media organisations must have publishing permits issued by the Internal Security Ministry.
Malaysiakini is caught in a Catch-22 situation - as an Internet media organisation, it is not subjected to the publishing permit regime; but without the permit, it cannot apply for the official media accreditation.
Attempts by malaysiakini to apply for the official press tag from Bernama has been rejected previously on similar grounds.
‘We’ll be there’
This is not the first time that malaysiakini is barred from covering the Umno assembly as it has been a recurring situation over the past few years.
Nevertheless, malaysiakini journalists were able to cover the event last year despite not being allowed into the main hall where Umno delegates held their meeting.
On Nov 13 when the four-day Umno general assembly kicks off, malaysiakini journalists will again be at the Putra World Trade Centre to cover the function.
“We’ll be there despite the ban,” said editor-in-chief Steven Gan.
“Our journalists were invited to cover functions of all other Barisan Nasional parties, including MCA, Gerakan and MIC. There’s no reason why we should be barred from the Umno general assembly.”
The ruling Umno began actively banning malaysiakini soon after the online media exposed the illegal logging by Umno Pahang of a vast swath of peat swamp forests in the state three years ago.
The logging occurred during then Umno secretary-general Khalil Yaacob’s watch when he was Pahang mentri besar. It is believed that Khalil had issued a party directive that malaysiakini journalists be barred from covering all Umno functions, including its supreme council meetings and general assemblies. Khalil, who has since retired from politics, is currently Malacca’s governor.
posted by The Malaysian. at 11/03/2006 05:57:00 PM
7 Comments:
It's not right to lift news live from Malaysiakini and republish it in toto. Please do your bit to help keep a struggling alternative media alive.
I do apologise if my comments are way off-topic, but I do have to get this off my chest. I wonder when TheSun newspaper will do an indepth look at the Sabah and Sarawak State Governments. I say this as there was mention of timber as per the above article posted by The Malaysian.
I hope that some conscientious civil servant or servants within the state administration of both states would kindly assist R. Nadeswaran in exposing the shell game used by certain Ali politicians, and their Baba cronies, to enrich their pockets, while at the same time destroying one of the world\'s oldest rainforests. This represents not only an abuse of power, but also ecological destruction of the nth degree.
In fact, I daresay that some Federal Ministers and their wives, together with A Senator and a Secretary General of a political party have their hands in this cookie jar as well. Let us hope this happens and TheSun plays its hand well. In fact, one wonders what had had actually happened to Bruno Manser. Perhaps a certain bearded and crooked two-bit ass-faced scumbag in Kuching can clarify?
Dear anonymous, I appreciate your concern for Malaysiakini. It is that very same concern with which I posted the above report. By making cosmetic changes to it, I may not have conveyed the sentiments of the authors of that report. Therefore it was a concious decision to republish it in toto. I do appreciate your feedback and rest assured that your concern most definitely will be noted and complied with.
rg sir,
while I applaud your analytical overview and morally resposible conscience I would nevertheless have to caution your unreal expectations on a mr nadeswaran as our potential savior.
He is a paid employee of a media organisation which primarily has to fulfill its business roles to earn its keep and by the same token Mr nades' rice bowl. Of course nades has lots of limitations as far as effectiveness is concerned, because he really cannot be truly independant.
so what is my point ?
Our true savior will be people like you n me n ourselves, becoz even our super opposition elected reps are also considerably impotent as far as I am concerned. afterall they too have to play to the gallery, unlike us who are the
real victims, and everything to lose.
For too long religion in Malaysia ( and need I say other places )has been used as a cover up to propagate evil and silence critics and opponents of the ruling elites.
to be direct only an ( & brand new ) exceptionally selfless honest and strong leader can alter the present economic and political cancer afflicting us today.
Our present powers are 99% corrupt at the end of the day by choice or by default.
I too cannot offer you any other solution ! except wait for a miracle ( from above ? )
Tonixe, I reluctantly agree with your statement regarding R. Nadeswaran, with MUCH reluctance! However, I take heart that Tiong Hiew Kiing and RHB Bank has not yet taken control of TheSun. Hopefully, Vincent Tan does not owe any favours to either THK or RHB. Or to any parties connected to the mysterious disappearance of Bruno Manser.
Well, as you put it quite correctly,
\"I too cannot offer you any other solution ! except wait for a miracle ( from above ? )\"
Remember the term ends soon and with no light at the end of the tunnel there will be an increased frenzy to line the pockets and to buy oneself the same position. And all this cost money ....so make hay while the sun shines ! That is the attitude of our elected reps.
And me thinks Bruno Manser has been captured and safely caged away in Sepilok wildlife santuary !
shanghaistephen said,
"And me thinks Bruno Manser has been captured and safely caged away in Sepilok wildlife santuary !"
Well, I hope you are right. The only fear is that his battered corpse lies undisturbed in the jungle; unvindicated by an impartial inquest and autopsy.
Post a Comment
<< Home