PH guarantees freedom of press - Anwar
SHAH ALAM - Pakatan Harapan (PH) guarantees that it will preserve, protect and enhance the independence of the media through legal reforms.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said PH was also prepared to invest in the education and training of media professionals.
“Under my leadership Pakatan Harapan will preserve, protect and enhance independence of the media through legal reform and investment in education and training of media professionals,” he said in a statement on his Facebook, today.
In his post, Anwar expressed concerns over attempts to intimidate journalists and interfere in the operation of the free press in the country.
He urged Malaysians to condemn such actions which were threatening the country’s democracy.
He said as the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was responsible in inspiring confidence in the country.
This, Anwar said included confidence in the professionalism of the country’s law enforcement and investigation agencies and confidence that the freedom of the press will be protected.
He said the Prime Minister’s remarks on the issue of free press reflected the latter’s “say-little and do-even-less” style of leadership.
“Without these pillars in order, confidence in our economy will wane and investors will continue to shun Malaysia,” he said.
He alleged that the government led by Umno and Bersatu was eager to return to the period when the absence of media freedom allowed mega-scandals such as the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ), 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) fiasco took place, which led to the loss of billions of ringgit of public funds.
He claimed that since the two parties have been running the government, a familiar pattern of corruption, religious bigotry, racism and sheer incompetence has emerged.
This, he said has reminded Malaysians of the reasons they voted to kick Umno and its allies out of power in 2018.
“Malaysians will recall that in 2015 The Edge was banned for three months for its reporting on 1MBD,” he said.
He added that Umno was launching an assault on the media just as the party’s leaders were facing potential convictions in their corruption cases, twisting the Prime Minister’s arm to call for an election in November.
His statement came on the heels of allegations of pressure by Umno leaders which led to the replacement of English Daily New Straits Times (NST) group editor and the criminal defamation charges against former and current financial publication The Edge editors.
