Articles by Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
Information minister threatens action against media outlets that discuss race or religion
(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 […]
Government regulatory agency forcibly shuts down two radio stations in Aceh as licensing controversy continues
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Fighting between the independent Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) and the Ministry of Communication and Information over regulatory power has sent the radio broadcasting sector into disarray. In one week, the Association of the Indonesian Frequency Monitoring Board (BALMON), an agency under the authority of the Ministry of Communication and Information, forcibly closed down […]
Government tightening restrictions on online media, public discussions of race and religion; forum on religious freedom halted by protestors
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Malaysian rights advocates are sounding the alarm over a perceived trend toward tightening restrictions on free speech and free expression in the country. The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) notes that the Malaysian Cabinet has recently instructed the media not to report on issues of race and religion. At the same time, the […]
Protests mount against revamp of independent Chinese-language radio program
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A coalition of media advocates and civil society groups is protesting a government move ordering a popular Chinese-language radio call-in program to revamp its format and content after it aired listeners’ views that were deemed inappropriate. On 24 June 2006, Malaysia’s Ministry of Information ordered the program, “The Mic Is On, With Love, […]
Censorship forces magazine to cancel latest issue
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Burma’s new monthly magazine, “New Spectator”, has been forced to cancel its July 2006 issue after heavy censorship stripped it of four lead articles. “New Spectator” publisher Ko Aung told Mizzima.com, a Delhi-based Burmese online news organization, that the four articles rejected by the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division included a cover story […]
Government shut-down of news blog prompts demonstrations; SEAPA warns of looming showdown between state and bloggers
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A showdown may be looming in Singaporean cyberspace, with the censure of a popular blogger sparking a rare protest in the city state and the government insisting that the suspension of his column is merely consistent with the city-state’s notorious policies for managing public discussions in any form of medium. The censure of […]
State-owned newspaper suspends blogger’s column
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A state-owned newspaper has suspended the column of blogger Lee Kin Mun, following an information ministry official’s warning that “it is not the role of journalists or newspapers in Singapore to champion issues.” A 30 June 2006 article by Lee in the state-owned “Today” newspaper sarcastically discussed how many Singaporeans cannot make ends […]
Government bans 18 books on Islam and religion
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Malaysia’s Ministry of Internal Security has banned 18 books on Islam and religion for their alleged potential to “disrupt peace and harmony”. The ban was ordered in accordance with the Printing Presses and Publications Act of 1984, which prohibits the reproduction or distribution of materials that disrupt peace and harmony. The banned books […]