Patrick Lee | January 26, 2012
Free Malaysia Today

Let the media roam free during elections, the National Union of Journalists tells government.

PETALING JAYA: As the general election draws nearer, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has demanded that the government let go of its iron grip on the country’s media.

In a letter to Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Electoral Reforms chairman Maximus Johnity Ongkili, NUJ general-secretary V Anbalagan listed a number of media-related proposals for the committee to consider.

Anbalagan claimed that these proposals –which included limiting the government’s control over the media – would ultimately create a level playing field for all political parties during the election.

“Journalists are to provide reliable information for everyone to take part in the democratic decision-making process. As such, it is the duty of the journalists to supply all individuals with diverse information for them to make decisions later,” he wrote.

Chief among the proposals was the setting up of a media monitoring committee, formed by the Election Commission (EC).

This committee, Anbalagan said, would have the power to issue election-reporting guidelines for media agencies, whether they were print, broadcast or online.

He added that the committee would be on duty after Parliament was dissolved until election results were announced.

“In the case of by-elections, the committee should spring into action from the time there is a casual vacancy until results are announced,” he said.

Ensure fair reporting

He also said the committee would have to ensure fair reporting in the country, and suggested that it be given the power to enforce the law laid out in the Election Act 1958.

“The EC can draw up regulations for the committee to enforce regulations under the Election Act.

“It should be emphasised that no candidate, agent or political party through the media before and during the election make statements to promote feelings of ill-will, discontent or hostility as stated under Section 4A of the Election Offences Act 1954,” Anbalagan added.

The EC, through the committee, he said, would also be given the power to censure “irresponsible media”.

Other proposals included:

•stopping the caretaker government from totally monopolising state news groups such as RTM (Radio Televisyen Malaysia) and Bernama;
•allocating radio and TV airtime for political parties based on the number of parliamentary seats won in the last election, or on the percentage they’re currently contesting;
•live primetime coverage for all political candidates;
•allowing private-run media to run political party manifestoes, if requested; and
•the right to reply if a report slammed a particular party or candidate.
Role of the police

Anbalagan also said the EC had to make sure that the police “sparingly and speedily” approve permits for political parties and independent candidates to conduct their respective ceramah.

“The role of the police is to ensure public safety and order. If two opposing parties are conducting ceramah close to one another, the police should distance them to prevent any untoward incidents,” he wrote.

Anbalagan’s letter has come after many years of criticism of media controls in the country, especially during general elections.

Many media observer groups and opposition candidates have in the past slammed the government for having a chokehold over the country’s media.

During this time, Barisan Nasional’s component parties are usually given wide coverage in the country’s newspapers, radio stations and TV channels.

Opposition or independent parties, on the other hand, are either ignored by the media, or would only be featured when BN candidates want to slam them.