CPJ concerned about MCA acquisition of newspapers
(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 13 June 2001 letter to Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik, president of the Malaysia Chinese Association (MCA), CPJ noted with concern the MCA’s recent acquisition of the Chinese-language dailies “Nanyang Siang Pau” and “China Press”. While CPJ does not normally take positions on media ownership issues, this particular acquisition is […]
Prime minister verbally attacks independent online newspaper Malaysiakini.com
(IPI/IFEX) – In a 6 March 2001 letter to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, IPI expressed its deep concern about the recent harassment of the independent online newspaper Malaysiakini.com. IPI is informed that, on 5 March, the Malaysian national news agency, Bernama, quoted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as saying, “… these people [Malaysiakini] really behave like […]
CPJ protests suspension of two magazines
(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 7 September 2000 letter to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, CPJ expressed its dismay at the recent suspension of two Malaysian publications, the weekly news magazine “Eksklusif” and the monthly youth magazine “Wasilah”. In an interview yesterday with the online newspaper “Malaysiakini”, Home Ministry official Tengku Mahmood Tengku Ismail said “Eksklusif”‘s publication […]
Fifty demonstrators detained, call for reform of laws
The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: 50 Demonstrators Detained in Malaysia In letters sent today to the Malaysian Home Minister and Chair of the Human Rights Commission, ARTICLE 19 demanded action to secure the release of over 50 people currently detained in connection with a peaceful protest on Saturday 15 April. The event […]
CPJ alarmed by government’s effective banning of magazine
**Updates IFEX alerts of 27 and 3 March, 21, 13, 12, 11 and 6 January 2000** (CPJ/IFEX) – In a 29 March 2000 letter to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, CPJ expressed its alarm at the effective banning of the independent bimonthly magazine “Detik”, whose publishing license has been cancelled by the Malaysian government. On 27 […]
“Detik” magazine closed
In a 27 March 2000 letter to Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Badawi, RSF protested his decision to withdraw the publishing licence of “Detik” magazine. RSF asked the minister to change his decision, which it said constituted a violation of press freedom. Once again, the organisation asked the minister to renew the licences of […]
WAN protests publication restriction on newspaper and its Internet edition
**Updates IFEX alerts of 3 March, 21, 13, 12, 11 and 6 January 2000** (WAN/IFEX) – In a 3 March 2000 letter to Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad, WAN and the World Editors Forum expressed their serious concern over the publication restrictions imposed on the opposition newspaper “Harakah”. According to reports, on 2 March the Home […]
“Harakah” newspaper threatened with closure
In a 3 March 2000 letter to Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Badawi, RSF protested against threats issued by members of the government against the newspaper “Harakah”. The threats came a day after the ministry’s decision to reduce the periodicity of the opposition newspaper from biweekly to fortnightly. RSF said the change seemed like […]
ARTICLE 19 protests charges of sedition, harassment of non-governmental media
The following is an ARTICLE 19 letter to the Malaysian prime minister: His Excellency Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahatir Mohamad Prime Minister Jabatan Perdana Menteri Kuala Lumpur 50502 Malaysia By fax: 00 60 3 238 3784 21 January 2000 Your Excellency ARTICLE 19, the International Centre Against Censorship, is extremely concerned by the recent charges of […]
Editor and publisher released on bail, due to appear in court
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply concerned by the 12 January 2000 arrests of Zulkifli Sulong, the editor of “Harakah”, the biweekly newspaper of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), and Chia Lim Thye, the owner of the company that prints “Harakah” and formally holds the newspaper’s publishing license. Police charged Zulkifli and Chia with sedition […]
Editor of opposition biweekly arrested and charged
**Updates IFEX alerts of 11 and 6 January 2000** (RSF/IFEX) – In a 12 January 2000 letter to Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Ahmad Badawi, RSF protested the arrest of Zulkifli Sulong, editor of “Harakah”. RSF considers that the charges brought against him by the authorities constitute a further step in the government’s policy […]
Publications threatened with closure
In a 10 January 2000 letter to Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mahathir Mohamad, CPJ expressed its deep concern over the Ministry of Home Affairs’ recent threats to close five Malaysian publications, including the widely-read opposition biweekly “Harakah”. In a 24 December 1999 letter, the home ministry accused “Harakah”, the newspaper of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party […]
Five newspapers risk closure
(RSF/IFEX) – In a 6 January 2000 letter to Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Ahmad Badawi, RSF expressed its concern after five newspapers were threatened with closure. RSF asked the minister to “ensure that the publication licences of the newspapers are not withdrawn by the ministry.” RSF condemned “any pressure on the private media,” […]
Imprisoned Canadian journalist freed
(CPJ/IFEX) – Murray Hiebert, the “Far Eastern Economic Review” (FEER) correspondent imprisoned in Kuala Lumpur on 11 September 1999, was released on the morning of 11 October, according to a spokesman for Dow Jones, which publishes the magazine. **Updates IFEX alerts of 14 September, 13 September and 19 May 1999, 3 October and 5 September […]
CPJ outraged by journalist’s imprisonment
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is outraged by the Malaysian Court of Appeal’s decision to imprison “Far Eastern Economic Review” correspondent Murray Hiebert for contempt of court. Hiebert’s sentencing makes Malaysia the only Commonwealth country to have imprisoned a journalist on contempt charges in half a century, according to his lawyers. **Updates IFEX alerts of 13 September […]
Journalist imprisoned
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is an 11 September 1999 CPJ news release: **Updates IFEX alerts of 19 May 1999, 3 October and 5 September 1997** JAILING OF REPORTER IN MALAYSIA DEPLORABLE CPJ Condemns Sentence Handed Down Against Murray Hiebert BANGKOK, September 11 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) deplores today’s decision by the Malaysian […]