Let Penang to be the first state to pass legislation on FoI
Speech by Ng Wei Aik, Political Secretary to Penang Chief Minister during the launching of State Chinese (Penang) Association’s website on 4th of May, 2008 at the Association’s premises:
On this auspicious occasion, I wish to thank the Persatuan Peranakan Cina Pulau Pinang or State Chinese (Penang) Association for inviting me to represent the Right Honourable Chief Minister to say a few words here.
I am happy to note that Persatuan Peranakan Cina Pulau Pinang despite an old association founded in 1920, but it is finally catching up with the internet age by launching its new website. It is indeed a commendable effort by the association to promote itself in the internet world and at the same time to encourage more youngsters to join this association.
Even I was born in Penang, but I only get to know this association not too long ago. If we want to attract more and more youngsters to join this association, then website is the most useful means for you to get in touch with these people. Besides of website, we as the politician nowadays also communicate with our supporters and voters through our personal blog and even through facebook.
This is an alternative means for us to spread our message across the board regardless of race, religion and political background. Nowadays, we have witnessed a lot of BN politicians also busy in setting up their personal blogs to win the heart and mind of the people over their political stand and viewpoints.
However, we are sad to hear that the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz saying that the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) is necessary because Malaysia had a multiracial population. He said that this law could be used to ensure that nobody crosses the line. However, this relevance should be questioned when one does not need a permit to start a blog or website.
I think this perhaps could be the best answer for us to explain why Malaysia is still placed 141st sharing the spot with Cameroon and Liberia compared to 150th last year. According to Freedom House survey report on global media, Malaysia has ranked for four consecutive years among the world’s bottom 30 percent countries in respecting press freedom.
In the latest ranking of 195 countries, Malaysia is placed behind East Timor and Mongolia in the Asia Pacific region where Malaysia scored 65 points and made it fall under ‘not free’ status.
All this happened yesterday which is also the World’s Press Freedom Day. But we are not happy to celebrate this event. This is a shame for all of us and I immediately call for efforts to be made by the federal government on media freedom. Despite the strong call for reform, the federal government is slow to adapt to changes. This had led to even not only senior editors but also reporters resorting to self-censorship.
Furthermore, repressive and preventive laws such as the Official Secrets Act, Sedition Act and Internal Security Act have contributed to the stifling of media freedom in this country, preventing journalists from reporting and writing independently.
However, on the part of Penang government and DAP, our commitment to press and media freedom is genuine. A group of our Members of Parliament has set up a Caucus on Freedom of Expression and Information which will get more people to support the cause.
Focusing on the issue of media law reform, the freedom of information and equal access to the media for all, we will also work with all interested parties to come up with a draft bill for the Freedom of Information Act. This will be done to replace the repressive Official Secrets Act.
As the Penang State Assemblyman for Komtar, I would like to propose to the Penang state government to be the first state government in Malaysia to table and pass the Enactment of Freedom to Information and hopefully this can be done in the coming state legislative assembly that will be called in July 2008.
Last but not least, my heartiest congratulations to the Persatuan Peranakan Cina Pulau Pinang in making this event a success. I would like also to remind you that only press freedom and the abolition of anti-human rights legislation can allow democracy to flourish and give birth to a more open and transparent society. We hope that with the people’s support, we could make Penang dynamic again under the new leadership of Y.A.B. Mr Lim Guan Eng.
Thank you very much.
On this auspicious occasion, I wish to thank the Persatuan Peranakan Cina Pulau Pinang or State Chinese (Penang) Association for inviting me to represent the Right Honourable Chief Minister to say a few words here.
I am happy to note that Persatuan Peranakan Cina Pulau Pinang despite an old association founded in 1920, but it is finally catching up with the internet age by launching its new website. It is indeed a commendable effort by the association to promote itself in the internet world and at the same time to encourage more youngsters to join this association.
Even I was born in Penang, but I only get to know this association not too long ago. If we want to attract more and more youngsters to join this association, then website is the most useful means for you to get in touch with these people. Besides of website, we as the politician nowadays also communicate with our supporters and voters through our personal blog and even through facebook.
This is an alternative means for us to spread our message across the board regardless of race, religion and political background. Nowadays, we have witnessed a lot of BN politicians also busy in setting up their personal blogs to win the heart and mind of the people over their political stand and viewpoints.
However, we are sad to hear that the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz saying that the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) is necessary because Malaysia had a multiracial population. He said that this law could be used to ensure that nobody crosses the line. However, this relevance should be questioned when one does not need a permit to start a blog or website.
I think this perhaps could be the best answer for us to explain why Malaysia is still placed 141st sharing the spot with Cameroon and Liberia compared to 150th last year. According to Freedom House survey report on global media, Malaysia has ranked for four consecutive years among the world’s bottom 30 percent countries in respecting press freedom.
In the latest ranking of 195 countries, Malaysia is placed behind East Timor and Mongolia in the Asia Pacific region where Malaysia scored 65 points and made it fall under ‘not free’ status.
All this happened yesterday which is also the World’s Press Freedom Day. But we are not happy to celebrate this event. This is a shame for all of us and I immediately call for efforts to be made by the federal government on media freedom. Despite the strong call for reform, the federal government is slow to adapt to changes. This had led to even not only senior editors but also reporters resorting to self-censorship.
Furthermore, repressive and preventive laws such as the Official Secrets Act, Sedition Act and Internal Security Act have contributed to the stifling of media freedom in this country, preventing journalists from reporting and writing independently.
However, on the part of Penang government and DAP, our commitment to press and media freedom is genuine. A group of our Members of Parliament has set up a Caucus on Freedom of Expression and Information which will get more people to support the cause.
Focusing on the issue of media law reform, the freedom of information and equal access to the media for all, we will also work with all interested parties to come up with a draft bill for the Freedom of Information Act. This will be done to replace the repressive Official Secrets Act.
As the Penang State Assemblyman for Komtar, I would like to propose to the Penang state government to be the first state government in Malaysia to table and pass the Enactment of Freedom to Information and hopefully this can be done in the coming state legislative assembly that will be called in July 2008.
Last but not least, my heartiest congratulations to the Persatuan Peranakan Cina Pulau Pinang in making this event a success. I would like also to remind you that only press freedom and the abolition of anti-human rights legislation can allow democracy to flourish and give birth to a more open and transparent society. We hope that with the people’s support, we could make Penang dynamic again under the new leadership of Y.A.B. Mr Lim Guan Eng.
Thank you very much.
posted by weiaik at
10:31
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