Charter 2000-Aliran is appalled at the Home Ministry’s rejection of a permit application by the Makkal Osai management – which is presumably due to the Tamil daily’s coverage of the Opposition besides giving the BN wider coverage.
This makes a mockery of the Prime Minister’s post-election promise to keep all ears open to comments, criticism and information that might serve as useful feedback to the federal government.
Even more confounding is that the Home Ministry’s action suggests that important lessons from the electoral results – one of which is that the party didn’t feel carefully the nation’s pulse on the ground – have been lost on the ruling BN,
Equally disturbing is that the ruling BN seems to have recoiled to its old fossilised self, refusing to respond and adapt adequately to the new political realities. It is still incapable of appreciating the importance of freedom of expression and of the media.
The Home Ministry should take note of the Information Minister’s recent remarks that the credibility of the mainstream media has been perceived by the general public as wanting.
We call upon the government to grant the publishing permit to Makkal Osai without delay. In fact, the government should repeal all restrictive media laws and institute a Freedom of Information Act in the near future.
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Dr Mustafa K Anuar & Anil Netto
Coordinators, Charter 2000-Aliran
17 April 2008
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
