Civil Society Joint Press Statement

Debate with Mat Sabu, not prosecute him! 

We, the undersigned civil society organisations,collectively register our utter disgust over the prosecution of PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu under Section 505 of the Penal Code with uttering statements tantamount to public mischief. He was even briefly arrested last night.

Charging Sabu goes against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s pledge to promote openness and democracy on Malaysia Day.

It raises questions over the sincerity of PM Najib in announcing a series of reforms  including amendment of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), whether he has full control on the police or both.

We urge the government to immediately drop the politically-motivated charge of Sabu and stop intimidating dissidents who oppose and challenge official history and ideology.

We urge the PM and DPM, instead of using government machinery to criminalize Sabu, to take up the challenge posed by him by having a no-holds-barred TV debate on the Bukit Kepong issue.

Likewise, politicians, retired police and military personnel as well as groups like Perkasa can debate with Sabu or expose the flaws of his views in media or in forums. They should respect Sabu’s right to have opinions from theirs.

Resorting to the state power to silence an opponent’s view is an act of cowardice. It shows only insecurity and no confidence to win a debate with facts and reason.

Such suppression of freedom is in fact an insult to independence of this country. For with independence, Malaysians should enjoy human rights and freedoms, unlike subjects of colonies or one-party states.

Endorsing Civil Society Organizations :

1. Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
2. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
3. Tenaganita
4. Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
5. KOMAS
6. Civil Rights Committee of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)
7. Civil Society Committee of LLG Cultural Development Centre
8. National Interlok Action Team (NIAT)
9. 528 Media Action Group
10. Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI)
11. Malaysia Youth & Students Democratic Movement(DEMA)
12. Community Action Network (CAN)
13. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
14. Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN)
15. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
16. Youth Section of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
17. Student Progressive Front USM
18. Student Progressive Front UPM
19. Student Progressive Front UUM
20. Student Progressive Front NEC
21. Persatuan Komuniti Prihatian Selangor (PRIHATIN)
22. Persatuan Bahasa Tionghua UPM
23. Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM)
24. Youth for Change (Y4C)
25. New Era College Alumni Association
26. Federation of Malaysian Indian NGOs (PRIMA)
27. Persatuan Alumni PBTUSM Selangor & Kuala Lumpur
28. Northern Region PBTUSM Alumni Association
29. Solidarity for Civil Rights in China (Malaysia)
30. Kempen Sejarah Malaysia Sebenar
31. Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Independent (KAMI)
32. KOLEKTIF 50B
33. Generasi 709
34. Kajian Politik untuk Perubahan (KPRU)
35. Suaram JB
36. Center for Orang Asli Concerns
37. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
38. Rainbow Genders Society
39. social imagination Station
40. Malaysians for Beng Hock Movement
41. Save Vui Kong Campaign
42. Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
43. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
44. T’anda Tanya of DurianFM.com
45. PertubuhanWartawan dan Jurugambar Akhbar Cina Pulau Pinang (PEWAJU)

Endorsing Political Organizations:

1. Parti sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
2. Selangor Pakatan Rakyat Elected Representatives’ Officers Association (SELPROA)

维护媒体独立撰稿人联盟(WAMI)文告

继第二电视台《前线视窗》制作人周泽南的合约被终止后，再度传来万挠高压电缆专题制作人陈彦妮不获续约，维护媒体独立撰稿人联盟对此深表失望，并希望国营电视台总监依不拉欣（Ibrahim Yahya）和新闻部长莱士雅丁给予一个合理的解释。

无论是周泽南所制作的，因巴贡水坝计划而被逼迁的原住民面临的困境，还是陈彦妮所参与制作的万挠高压电缆议题，都攸关人民权益。他们两人恰到其分扮演了新闻工作者反映民声民意的角色。

电视台管理层没有给予理由，于合约终止前一天告知陈彦妮不获续约，是非常粗暴的手段，对任何一个新闻工作者来说，都是不合理的对待。这种处理手段，不免让人怀疑，大马广播电视台（RTM）似乎在对具有独立专业精神的制作团队进行清算，以维护政府的利益，同时也曝露出我国电视台新闻工作者的工作不稳定和缺乏保障。

我们认为，RTM以合约方式聘请制作人的方式是完全不专业和不合理的，新闻工作者需要稳定、全职和具备基本福利的工作以执行他们的职务。约聘制度盛行于国营和私营电视台并非新闻，唯此次事件更加曝露出约聘制的弱点，其不确定性使新闻工作者在新闻作业上趋向保守及不敢违逆上司的意愿，即使作业方式违反新闻伦理。这严重造成新闻工作者和媒体组织资方处于不平等的地位。

国内电视台新闻工作者必须正视这个问题，明了劳工权益与新闻专业息息相关。我们吁请被剥削的新闻工作者团结一致和组织起来，以“既争取劳工权也争取新闻专业”的策略，努力争取合理的劳动条件和权益。

黄进发

维护媒体独立撰稿人联盟主席

2010-07-22

Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) strongly condemn the government for deliberately disapproving or delaying the renewal of publication permits for three opposition parties’ organs, namely Suara Keadilan, Harakah and The Rocket. To date, only Harakah’s permit is renewed.

WAMI holds that in democracy where citizens are free to choose their reading materials, party organs with narrow appeals cannot be sold beyond the circle of party loyalists even if they want to.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein’s assertion that the party organs must stick to the ministry’s guideline and restricting their sales to party members therefore only suggests that these party organs are actually popular beyond their membership.

And why would non-members spend their hard-earned money to buy overtly partisan views? The answer is simple: all mainstream media are now strictly controlled by the government through censorship and ownership made possible by restrictive laws like the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA).

The opposition politicians are not only denied right to reply by government-controlled mouthpieces such as Utusan Malaysia, they rarely have any opportunity to appear positively on state-owned television and radio station.

WAMI is also deeply concerned about the Home Minister’s announcement that a committee of truth to stop dissemination of false news. In today’s circumstances, such committee will become but another tool of the BN to control media.

WAMI calls upon Malaysian citizens to protest the attempts to stop the publication of the three party organs. Such attempts are not only discrimination against the opposition parties, but more importantly, undermining the citizens’ right to be informed.

All Malaysians should further press for a comprehensive reform of media laws, especially the Printing Processes and Publication Act (PPPA), we urge member of public write-in to the PM and Home Minister to demand to lift ban on the three party organs. The BN federal government should learn from and follow the example of Selangor, which has tabled Malaysia’s first Freedom of Information legislation.

Wong Chin Huat

Chairperson, WAMI

———————————————————————————————————————

[TEMPLATE]

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak

Prime Minister of Malaysia

Fax : 03-8888 3444

Email : aziz@pmo.gov.my, dfatmi@pmo.gov.my

(PM’s Private & Political Secretaries)

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein

Home Minister

Fax : 03-88891613/03-88891610

Email : menteri@moha.gov.my

23th July 2010

Dear Prime Minister and Home Minister,

Lift Ban on Suara Keadilan, Harakah and The Rocket

I, as a citizen of Malaysia, hereby protest against the ban and obstacles imposed on the publication and circulation of three opposition organs:  Suara Keadilan,, Harakah and The Rocket. The government’s undemocratic action has violated my right to information.

Therefore I demand the government to lift the ban immediately and unconditionally, followed by reforming media laws to ensure a media environment that is independent of political control, where both the ruling and opposition parties have equal access to public- and private-owned media.

Yours faithfully,

_____________________

(       Your full name )

2010年7月23日

维护媒体独立撰稿人联盟强烈谴责政府故意不批准，抑或拖延批准三份反对党党报 — 《公正之声》、《哈拉卡》和《火箭报》。至今，仅有《哈拉卡》的出版准证获得更新。

维护媒体独立撰稿人联盟认为，民主社会的公民有选择读物的自由。若党报的诉求狭隘，即使传播多广，也无法超出党忠诚支持者的范围。

内政部长希山慕丁胡先表示党报必须遵从内政部指南和只限党员购买，显示这些党报在非会员群众也广受欢迎。

为什么非会员会花费辛苦赚得的金钱购买内容偏颇的党报？答案很简单：所有主流媒体现在被严格控制，政府通过限制性法律如出版与印刷法令审查媒体及控制拥有权。

反对党政治人物不但被政府控制的喉舌如《马来西亚前锋报》否决回应的权利，他们也鲜有机会正面地出现在国营电视和广播电台。

维护媒体独立撰稿人联盟极度关注，内政部长宣布成立“真相委员会”（Committee of truth）以停止散播错误新闻的行动。以今日的状况而言，这个委员会将成为国阵管制媒体的另一个工具。

我们促请大马公民抗议打压三份党报的行为。内政部的做法不但歧视反对党，更重要的是剥夺人民的知情权。

所有大马人应继续施压以争取全面改革媒体法律，特别是出版与印刷法令。我们促请公众以附带的信件范本为例，写信给首相及内政部长，要求解禁三份党报。国阵联邦政府需向雪州政府看齐，雪州政府已提呈全马第一个资讯自由法令草案。

黄进发

维护媒体独立撰稿人联盟

———————————————————————————————————————————

[信件范本]

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak

Prime Minister of Malaysia

Fax : 03-8888 3444

Email : aziz@pmo.gov.my, dfatmi@pmo.gov.my

(PM’s Private & Political Secretaries)

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein

Home Minister

Fax : 03-88891613/03-88891610

Email : menteri@moha.gov.my

23th July 2010

Dear Prime Minister and Home Minister,

Lift Ban on Suara Keadilan, Harakah and The Rocket

I, as a citizen of Malaysia, hereby protest against the ban and obstacles imposed on the publication and circulation of three opposition organs:  Suara Keadilan,, Harakah and The Rocket. The government’s undemocratic action has violated my right to information.

Therefore I demand the government to lift the ban immediately and unconditionally, followed by reforming media laws to ensure a media environment that is independent of political control, where both the ruling and opposition parties have equal access to public- and private-owned media.

Yours faithfully,

_____________________

(       Your full name )

馬來西亞的威權體制與族群政治環境中，媒體一直受到許多限制，近年由民間組成的媒體改革團體要有所作為，除需衝撞體制，也要面 對糾結的族群問題，而這涉及了族群內部與不同族群間的各種因素，使媒改問題更形複雜。本文以「撰稿人聯盟」的實踐為例，試圖說明這個由華人所組成的媒改團 體，其出現與實踐過程，相當具體地展現了這樣的困境。本文認為要突破這困境，除要打破族群政治的框限，橫向連結其他公民團體，壯大改革力量，也需深耕言論 自由與新聞自由的理念，號召更多民眾加入媒改行列，共同改善媒體環境，協助馬來西亞邁向民主化。

關鍵字: 威權政體、族群政治、民主化、媒體改革、壟斷

點擊 4.pp89-118TJSEAS5_2_. 下載完整論文。

Lift ban on cartoons, repeal PPPA

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Writers’ Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) condemn the Ministry of Home Affair’s banning of “1Funny Malaysia”, “Perak Darul Kartun” dan “Isu Dalam Kartun”, all cartoon compilations by Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, better known as Zunar.

According to online daily “Malaysiakini”, whose subsidiary Kinibooks is the publisher of “1Funny Malaysia”, the Ministry’s secretary-general Mahmood Adam justified the ban thus: “All three publications have been banned for…contents that can influence the
people to revolt against the leaders and government policies. The contents are not suitable and [are] detrimental to public order.” The report did not state when the ban was imposed, merely quoting the official as saying so on 24 June.

CIJ and WAMI hold that no books should be banned to prevent the circulation of ideas, and that the people should be free to seek and receive them. However, we are particularly appalled by the rationale for the ban, which revealed flagrant partisanship of the civil service toward the government of the day. The civil service, by name and mandate, is supposed to be above politics and serve the public, which includes protecting the people’s right to express what they think of the elected government. The Ministry is being nonsensical to link criticism of the ruling government with public disorder, when the
former is a hallmark of a functioning democracy.

The Ministry also resorted to the undemocratic measure of confiscating the books for “study” in January this year and August last year, a move which has intimidated retailers from selling them.

We call for an immediate lift of the ban and the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act under which the ban is being imposed. Once again, the law is being abused by the state as a political tool for hegemonic purposes rather than to maintain social order.

Issued by

Yip Wai Fong
Communication and Publications Officer, CIJ

Wong Chin Huat

President, WAMI

2010年6月29日

解禁漫画，废除出版与印刷法令

独立新闻中心（CIJ）与维护媒体独立撰稿人联盟（WAMI）谴责内政部查禁《一个滑稽大马》、《漫画霹雳》和《漫画时事》。祖基菲里安华是这些漫画的编辑，他以“祖纳”的名字著称。

根据网络媒体当今大马，《一个滑稽大马》的出版商是它的子公司。内政部秘书长玛末阿当指出：“这三本刊物被禁的原因是…内容能影响人民起义对抗领袖和政府政策。这些内容不适当及将破坏公共秩序”。报导没有说明禁令何时落实，只是引用6月24日的官方说法。

独立新闻中心（CIJ）与维护媒体独立撰稿人联盟（WAMI）认为，任何书籍都不应被禁止传播观念，人民应有自由寻找和获取书籍的权利。我们对查禁三本漫画的理由感到震惊，公共服务竟然盲目拥护今日之政府。公共服务正如其名，它获得人民的委托，本应超越政治和为公众服务，包括保障人民向民选政府自由表达意见的权利。内政部把批评政府和引起社会动荡相关联是荒谬的，前者是民主制度运行的重要特征。

内政部也以不民主手段，在今年一月和去年八月以“研究”为由没收这批书籍，这个行动已恐吓销售商不敢售卖这些书籍。

我们促请政府马上解禁三本漫画，废除被援引以查禁书籍的出版与印刷法令。这法令已被政府当作政治工具滥用以维持霸权，而非用于维护社会秩序。

发表联合文告单位

叶韦坊

通讯及宣传员，独立新闻中心

黄进发

维护媒体独立撰稿人联盟

To read series of events of 528 “No self-censorship & No political interference” movement, please go to 528 tak nak potong blog

欲阅读528“反自我审查，反政治干预”运动的系列活动，请点击528不剪之夜的部落格。

July 11^th notes the 100^th day of Najib’s premiership. His 100-days performance will serve as an indicator on how our country is likely to be governed for the next four years.

First of all, we laud the various measures of economic reforms announced lately by the Government. While these bold measures will help liberalize our economy amidst the challenges of globalization, the authoritarian root cause of economic ethno-nationalism, cronyism, corruption and power abuse must be duly recognized. If the government insists to separate the politics from economy and maintain iron-fist political control, its moves in economic liberalization will be just the tricks for the political elites to stay in power.

Najib has assumed leadership of this country after the 308 election and amid a global economic crisis. There is no doubt that his concept of “1 Malaysia, people first, performance now” had received an overwhelming boost and the people has very high expectation for it. He could choose to immerse himself into the choir of praises, or transform the public good will into political determination to embark institutional and legal reforms and lead the nation to a true height in the next 100 days.

The past 100 days have seen ups and downs in Najib’s relations with the public, characterized by episodes of conflict. Hence, even though the latest poll shows Najib is now enjoying a much improved approval rate at 65%, the government still has no reason to celebrate. Instead, the government should brace itself for the greater scrutiny by a more demanding public.  For the sake of long term political stability, Najib must begin political democratization while continuing economic liberalization.

As we expect a swamp of praises on his first 100 days in the media, we the undersigned civil society organizations wish to set 10 Key Performance Indices (KPIs) on democratization for Najib Administration’s next 100 days. We would also call upon Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, the Minister in the Prime Minister Department to monitor the attainment of these KPIs.

1          Perak Constitutional Crisis

Assessment – deepening after six months, threatening democracy in future

Explanation – A host of unelected institutions – palace, judiciary, AG Chamber, Elections Commission, police, bureaucracy, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission – have been dragged into this unconstitutional regime change. If this precedence is not reversed, what would happen come next general elections if neither BN nor Pakatan Rakyat enjoys a comfortable majority?

KPI:  Fresh elections for the State of Perak.

2          Electoral System and Process

Assessment – still neither free nor fair

Explanation – Elections lacking integrity and credibility not only deny citizens’ democratic right and reduce competitiveness of electoral politics, but also deprive the winner of legitimacy, possibly landing in a political catastrophe like Iran or Thailand. If the rules are not changed, the constituency redelineation exercise – which may take place as early as 2010 – may set in the first time bomb for future disputes.

KPI:  A Royal Commission on Electoral Reform before the next Constituency Redelineation exercise.

3          The Judiciary and the Prosecution

Assessment – still controlled by the executive

Explanation – The Judicial Appointment Commission is controlled by Prime Minister, making the reform a farce. Judicial Power in the pre-1998 Article 121(1) of the Federal Constitution is still not restored. The Attorney General (AG) controls prosecution while advices the federal government, resulting in conflict of interest. The AG also controls both deputy public prosecutors and lower court judges.

KPI:  A Parliamentary Select Committee on Judiciary and Prosecution Reform

4          The Parliament

Assessment – still controlled by the executive

Explanation – There is no sharing of legislative leadership at both the house and committee levels. Opposition parliamentarians are thrown out almost on daily basis. There is no provision for the role of Opposition’s Shadow Cabinet.

KPI:  A Royal Commission on Parliamentary Reform

5          Internal Security Act (ISA)

Assessment – terrorizing Malaysians

Explanation – Allowing detention without trial and other violation of human rights, this is simply a law unacceptable for any civilized society.

KPI:  The repeal of ISA, with no new laws allowing detention without trial

6          The Police

Assessment – still violating human rights

Explanation – The police still arrest citizens at whims. Detainees still die in police custody mysteriously. Crime rates still soar high.

KPI:  the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC)

7          The Media

Assessment – still suffering from political control

Explanation – The media remains tightly controlled via firstly, curbing of free speech which results in self-censorship; and secondly, entry barrier in the print and broadcast media which results in monopolistic control by BN interests. There is no independent public service media like the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

KPI:  A Parliamentary Select Committee on Media Law Reform

8          Freedom of Information (FOI)

Assessment – still denied

Explanation – Information vital for public interests is normally classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), hindering transparency and accountability but breeding corruption and mismanagement. While Selangor is initiating its own FOI law, nothing is happening at the federal level or other state.

KPI:  FOI laws at both the Federal and State levels

9          Local Governments

Assessment – still unelected and unaccountable, largely unresponsive and incompetent

Explanation – No representation without taxation. Local governments are not mafia, therefore they must be elected to have taxing power.

KPI:  Local Government Elections nationwide.

10        The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)

Assessment – practicing selective investigations, still impotent to curb corruption

Explanation – Like its predecessor the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), MACC is still controlled by the Executive and has no independent power to prosecute. Hence, it remains an Executive’s tool to eliminate political opponents rather than becoming an independent institution combating corruption.

KPI:  Amendment of the MACC Act to increase MACC’s autonomy under optimum parliamentary oversight.

So far, the Najib Administration has failed to provide Malaysians a concrete plan and vision of reforms with short, medium and long term strategies. Rather, the focus has been more on superficial public relations packing and media spinning. Such media management is far from the true leadership the country needs for reform and revival.

Thomas Jefferson, a founding father of the United States, divided leaders into two types: those who do not trust the people and believe they know best; and those who believe that the people are the government’s best guide to pubic interest.

Najib should recognize that political and economic freedoms come hand-in-hand and reform cannot be built on the suppression and denial of the citizens’ democratic rights.

We hope that Najib would implement the proposed KPIs above and make his mark in history with a genuine reform programme that includes democratisation. In the long run, only a leadership that embraces democracy could earn the applause of the people.

Initiated by

Liau Kok Fah, Chairperson, Civil Right Committee , Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)

Gayathry Venkiteswaran, Executive Director, Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)

Dr Lim Teck Ghee, Executive Director, Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI)

Andrew Khoo, Convener, Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI@Parliament)

K, Arumugam, Coordinator, Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC)

Maria Chin Abdullah, Executive Director, Pusat Janadaya (Empower)

Zaid Kamaruddin, President, Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM)

Tah Moon Hui, Coordinator, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram)

Wong Chin Huat, Chairperson, Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)