THE assurances of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob that (whatever) freedoms the press enjoys today will be protected goes only as far as to ease fears that suppression of journalism in this country is seeing a resurgence.
Just in one day (Monday) it was reported that Umno warlords saw to it that the editorial leadership of the New Straits Times would be changed, with the removal of respected group editor Lokman Mansor.
Then, former editor-in-chief at The Edge, Azam Aris – another revered media personality for his biting but factual and insightful observations of corporate and political happenings in the country – was charged with criminal defamation.
Lokman has been removed for the NST’s apparent support for non-interference in the judicial process that saw former prime minister and ex-Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak being convicted and sentenced to 12 years in jail for his role in the SCR International corruption scandal.
The editorials he approved saw the fortunes of the fledgling media organisation improve its readership as it took a more middle-of-the-ground approach in its reporting, even giving space to opposition politicians and critical reporting of the government of the day.
This did not go down well with those who felt NST should continue to be the mouthpiece of the party come hell or high water.
Inevitably as it has always been the case with NST, the powers that be had their way and it saw another political casualty.
Azam’s case is more concerning as institutions such as the police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) are seen to be made a conduit by those who do not like what is written about them.
The Edge’s articles on stock market manipulation have obviously ruffled feathers, hence the criminal defamation police report lodged against the organisation – to worryingly disclose the identities of the journalists who had written the articles.
There is a provision for civil litigation. But that the public prosecutor has found it justified to pursue criminal action against Azam and contributing editor M. Shanmugam for protecting their journalists who exposed questionable activities in the stock market in itself raises questions on the rationale and indeed motivations of the institutions funded by taxpayers.
One cannot help but contrast this enthusiasm to prosecute journalists against the disinterest of the police and the AGC to pursue an assault on The Vibes’ own reporter in May by a security guard at the Immigration Department at the Pudu Urban Transformation Centre.
Ironically, it was just before the National Journalists Day celebrations that the prime minister even then had given his assurance to ensure a healthy environment for free and fair reporting.
These latest incidents however show that these reassurances are at risk of being mere lip service when warlords, little Napoleons and hidden hands still hold sway in dictating the public’s right to know and the media’s role in informing them. – The Vibes, September 15, 2022
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