Media freedom under scrutiny as government revokes Harakah’s media accreditation

SHAH ALAM - Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) has lambasted the Information Department, under the purview of the Communications and Digital Ministry, for revoking the official media accreditation of PAS's official mouthpiece, Harakah, and its online platform, Harakah Daily, without adequate reasons.

Stating that the media should be given the opportunity to provide clarification and justification for their content before punitive measures were taken, Geramm said that the department's move lacks transparency and due process.

"In this case, the government's reasoning behind the revocation of media accreditation cites a violation of "journalistic ethics." "Its justification is far from clear and raises concerns about arbitrary actions against media outlets, even if they are affiliated with opposition parties," it said in a statement recently.

Geramm is a loose coalition of media practitioners and supporters of press freedom in Malaysia and across the Southeast Asian region.

While the government has been discussing the establishment of a Media Council tasked with determining media ethics, Geramm stressed that any efforts to regulate the media should be transparent, just, and abide by established laws and regulations.

Media freedom has been a contentious issue in Malaysia for years, and this latest incident has again questioned the extent of media freedom in the country.

This incident highlights the pressing need for clarity and fairness in media regulation, as well as the protection of journalistic integrity, it added.

"As Malaysia moves towards the establishment of the Media Council, the government's actions must not be perceived as attempts to stifle media freedom.

"The world is watching as Malaysia grapples with the delicate balance between media regulation and press freedom," it said.

On Tuesday, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, who is also Pasir Mas MP, claimed Harakah received a letter from the Information Department earlier today requesting that its reporters return their official media, news portal Malaysiakini reported.

He added that without the official media passes, Harakah journalists will be unable to enter government premises such as Parliament to report on events there.