(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an 18 July 2006 joint ARTICLE 19 and CIJ press release: ARTICLE 19 and CIJ Urge Malaysian Parliament to Amend the Press Council Bill Today, ARTICLE 19 and the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) launch ARTICLE 19’s legal analysis of Malaysia’s Press Council Bill. The analysis concludes that some […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an 18 July 2006 joint ARTICLE 19 and CIJ press release:
ARTICLE 19 and CIJ Urge Malaysian Parliament to Amend the Press Council Bill
Today, ARTICLE 19 and the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) launch ARTICLE 19’s legal analysis of Malaysia’s Press Council Bill. The analysis concludes that some of the current provisions would undermine press freedom by reducing the independence and self-regulatory nature of the Press Council. The Bill needs to be amended to offer real protection for press freedom and promote freedom of expression in Malaysia.
The Press Council Bill is stated to be part of Malaysia’s commitment as a progressive democratic nation to the protection of fundamental civil liberties as enshrined in Article 10(1) of the Constitution of Malaysia.
Although significant progress has been made in this Bill to establish the Press Council as an independent self-regulatory body, to promote professional journalism, the Bill still leaves the Press Council vulnerable to political interference and seriously undermines its independence. Furthermore, it still imposes unacceptable restrictions on press freedom, as it allows newspaper licenses and permits to be revoked or suspended at any time.
When the Bill is tabled at the Parliament at the next seating in September, ARTICLE 19 and CIJ recommend that it should be amended to offer strong and real protection for media freedom on the basis of internationally accepted standards. More specific recommendations, as outlined in the analysis, include:
1. Amend Bill to strengthen the Council as an independent, self-regulatory body. This requires removal of members of Parliament and Senators, removal of the Minister’s power and functions in relation to the Council and changes in the funding sources for the Council.
2. Review system of licensing and permits, with a view to abolish it and replace it with a technical registration system.
3. Improve procedural fairness and appeals mechanism, increase consultation in formulating codes and guidance, and remove use of fines as sanctions.
More widely, ARTICLE 19 and CIJ strongly urge the Malaysian government to sign and ratify the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, and ARTICLE 19 offers its international expertise and technical assistance for the redrafting of this Bill and any other legislation which promotes freedom of expression in Malaysia.
ARTICLE 19’s full analysis of the Malaysia Press Council Bill is accessible on: http://www.article19.org/pdfs/analysis/malaysia.prs.06.pdf
