(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Malaysian government is threatening action against the mass media should they continue discussing race and religion. In a press statement on 28 July 2006, Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin warned editors that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would not tolerate discussion on such matters. Zainuddin’s threat comes two days after the premier ordered […]
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Malaysian government is threatening action against the mass media should they continue discussing race and religion. In a press statement on 28 July 2006, Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin warned editors that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would not tolerate discussion on such matters.
Zainuddin’s threat comes two days after the premier ordered newspapers not to discuss race, religion or forums being held to uphold the constitutional right to freedom of religion. The forums are being held because of fears that this right is being eroded by actions and decisions by both the government and the judiciary.
Zainuddin’s strongly worded statement warned newspapers of a recurrence of the 1987 ‘Operasi Lallang’, a government clampdown that shut down three newspapers and arrested over 100 activists. It particularly warned the editors not to be used by “press freedom advocates”. According to a reliable source, following the press conference in which the statement was issued, the minister singled out journalists from English language dailies “The Sun” and the “New Straits Times”, telling them to pass the message on to their editors.
These threats are the latest in a series of moves against media freedom in Malaysia. The Kuala Lumpur-based Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is urging the government to stop interfering in the media and to uphold the constitutional right to freedom of speech instead. CIJ said if the Malaysian government wishes to ease tensions, it should uphold law and order, including constitutional freedoms, rather than refusing to discuss issues related to freedom of religion and giving in to intimidation and violence.
