Press Statement by Lim Guan Eng in Petaling Jaya on Sunday, 21st March 2010:
Prove press freedom by taking action against Utusan Malaysia for its lies against Pakatan Rakyat leaders preaching racial hatred and dominance
DAP urges Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to prove that there is press freedom in Malaysia by taking action against Utusan Malaysia for its lies against Pakatan Rakyat leaders, preaching racial hatred and dominance. China Press had reported correctly that the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hasan was leaving but they got the dates wrong by stating May when it was September this year. This difference of only a few months should not warrant such a harsh action of suspending their editor-in-chief Teoh Yong Khoon for two weeks especially when China Press had already apologized publicly.
Datuk Seri Najib had said during National Press Club (NPC) – Naza Awards two days ago that freedom without responsibility is no freedom at all. And that as long as the reports do not run foul of our existing laws, the press is free to report on pretty much anything. The actions taken against China Press shows this is not true. Just as the detention under ISA of a Sin Chew reporter Ms Tan Hoon Cheng for being a threat to public security, not for what she wrote but merely reporting the racist remarks of an UMNO leader(who did not apologise and was not arrested at all)
The adverse impact of China Press wrong reporting by a few months of the IGP's leaving is minimal as there was no disturbances. However the false and irresponsible reporting of Utusan Malaysia preaching racial and religious hatred such as Penang cancelling the Maulidur Rasul procession, that Seputeh MP Teresa Kok detained under ISA for Utusan Malaysia's false report that she removed speakers from suraus as the azan was too loud and that DAP was anti-Islam and anti-Malay was not acted upon.
Instead the authorities appear to encourage Utusan Malaysia to publish news reports and columns that humiliated the non-Malays as second class citizens and tried to stoke fear amongst Malays that they were being bullied. No wonder the Prime Minister's private secretary described Indians who came to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese women who came here sold their bodies.
The actions against China Press shows that if there is any press freedom in Malaysia, it is limited to UMNO-controlled newspapers like Utusan Malaysia which enjoys complete freedom to lie without any responsibility contrary to truth, justice and morality.
The failure to repeal the ISA and Printing Presses & Publications Act shows that 1Malaysia is like a beautiful ice carving. It is nice to look at in a tropical climate Malaysia but will slowly but surely melt away, bringing about no changes.
*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary General & Penang Chief Minister; MP for Bagan
