Unity govt will not rule with iron fist towards media - Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR - Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil guarantees that the unity government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will not rule with an iron fist towards media organisations.

“I guarantee that we (government) will not rule with an iron fist like the previous administrations. That is what I guarantee to media practitioners.

“Throughout my service as a minister, not a single reporter was arrested by the police. Not a single media outlet was shut down as what previously happened.

“Surely this is a matter we will defend,” he said when met by reporters at the Federal Territories Kita Madani Aspirasi Malaysia 2023 programme here, today.

He was commenting on criticisms made by some parties against the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for blocking content on a news portal.

Fahmi said he was prepared to meet with any parties to thoroughly observe the matters brought up.

He explained that the measures would enable parties involved to understand clearly on why legal action was taken.

On Tuesday, a group of eight veteran journalists issued a statement warning the MCMC against playing the role of ‘big brother’ by blocking media online content.

The statement was issued by National Journalism Laureate Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, veteran newsman Datuk Abdul Kadir Jasin, Karangkraf Group advisor Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacob, former Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, Malaysian Press Institute chief executive officer Datuk Chamil Wariya, Datuk Yong Soo Heong, Datuk Zakaria Wahab and Dr G Manimaran.

This followed MCMC’s action calling media practitioners to give a statement on the content they brought on the online news portal.