KUALA LUMPUR – The Dewan Rakyat must explain its decision to grant special parliamentary access to online news portal MalaysiaNow when other more established agencies were snubbed, said Hannah Yeoh (Segambut-PH).
Yeoh raised the issue in Parliament today, questioning how the year-old portal was included in the list of media companies being allowed entry to the lower House over others.
“I would like to get an explanation from the speaker (Datuk Seri Azhar Azizan Harun) on the list of official publications. How were the media selected?” she said when debating the royal address today.
“How did a relatively new online portal like MalaysiaNow be included in the list and not others like Free Malaysia Today, The Malaysian Insight, and Malay Mail?
“What is the excuse and basis for the Dewan Rakyat to list MalaysiaNow when other media practitioners that have operated far longer and are more influential and experienced are left out?”
In a statement on September 8, Azhar had announced that only 16 media agencies were allowed to cover the current sitting from inside the Parliament grounds, with no reasons given for the arbitrary move.
Other than the aforementioned agencies, other notable media organisations absentees are New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia – barred coverage for the first time – as well as Kosmo, Harian Metro, Malaysian Gazette, and The Malaysian Reserve.
The organisations allowed coverage are RTM, Bernama, the Information Department, Finas, TV3, Astro Awani, Berita Harian, Sinar Harian, The Star, theSun, Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau, Malaysia Nanban, AFP, Malaysiakini, and MalaysiaNow.
It is speculated that MalaysiaNow is backed by government-linked individuals.
Azhar has yet to explain the justification for the selection of the media agencies.
Yeoh urged the House to expand the list of approved media to include more agencies.
“This is to be fair to the agencies. It is also important to ensure freedom of media is guaranteed and that media coverage is fair to opposition MPs.” – The Vibes, September 20, 2021
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