Charter 2000-Aliran commends NUJ’s principled stand

Charter 2000-Aliran commends the stand taken by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) that the proposed Malaysian Media Council must be truly independent and self-regulated and that its composition should be representative of the interests of journalists and of the public.

In addition, the NUJ also calls for the ‘amendment/repeal of several restrictive laws’ such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), Internal Security Act and Official Secrets Act. In this regard, however, we strongly urge for an outright repeal of those repressive laws.

It is of utmost importance, to us, that these laws are repealed; otherwise, the Media Council, which is primarily meant to self-regulate its members, would be further curbed and controlled by an overarching set of repressive laws. In other words, the Council becomes a reinforcement of these restrictive laws.

Furthermore, the PPPA has resulted in, among other things, the concentration of media ownership in this country as exemplified by patterns of media conglomeration such as the Media Prima group, Huaren Holdings, and the Utusan Melayu group. This is politically and culturally unhealthy as it prevents the emergence of a diversity of publications that can cater to diverse shades of opinions, interests and concerns among the general public.

We also support the NUJ’s suggestion that an Access to Information Act or Freedom of Information Act be introduced to promote transparency and accountability in government and in its dealings with the private sector.

To reiterate, the proposed Media Council must be independent and be seen to be independent as it has deep implications on democracy, transparency and public accountability.


Dr Mustafa K Anuar & Anil Netto
Joint Coordinators
Charter 2000-Aliran

This is the Bernama report on the NUJ's stand:

Media Council Must Be Independent, Self-regulated, Says NUJ

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) feels that the formation of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) can only be successful if the body is independent, self-regulated and made up of an equal composition of public and media representatives.

"The union conducted a survey among its members from March to October 2003 (and) found that the members are keen for a body to regulate the professional conduct of the media," NUJ general secretary Hong Boon How said in a statement Tuesday.

The NUJ was responding to a statement by Deputy Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin over the weekend, calling on the union to push for the setting-up of the MMC, which was mooted in the 1960s by a group of editors to look after the interests of media practitioners.

Hong noted that the survey findings also indicated that the formation of the body should be preceded by the amendment/repeal of several restrictive laws, namely the Printing Presses and Publications Act, Internal Security Act, Sedition Act and Official Secrets Act, and the introduction of an Access to Information Act.

He said the NUJ sent a copy of the survey report to the Prime Minister's Department on May 20 last year and was still waiting for a favourable reply.

Hong said the original draft of the MMC was not accepted by the NUJ as its members feared that journalists were not well represented and that the council might impose new restrictions on the local media.

He claimed that the NUJ was not consulted on the MMC proposal at the drafting stage.

"The union is willing to cooperate with Deputy Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin to rework the proposed Malaysian Media Council or anybody that can enhance the professionalism and the freedom of the local media," he added.

-- BERNAMA