PUTRAJAYA – Three media non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Gerakan Media Merdeka and National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Peninsular Malaysia – today handed over a memorandum to Communications and Multimedia (KKMM) Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah calling for the government to continue ensuring freedom of the press.
NUJ president Farah Marshita Abdul Patah said the memorandum was handed over in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day, which is celebrated every May 3.
“We hope the government promotes press freedom and creates an environment that allows the media to function freely,” she said after the handover here today.
Farah Marshita said among the proposals put forward in the memorandum was the establishment of the Dana Daya Tahan Media (media resilience fund), Malaysian Media Council and speeding up the waiting process of media practitioners to receive their Covid-19 vaccine shots.
The memorandum was handed to Syed Khairil Imran Said Halim, special officer to KKMM secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek.
Khairil said the memorandum will be handed over to the Mohammad, who will then hand it to Saifuddin.
Meanwhile, CIJ executive director Wathshlah G. Naidu said the role of media practitioners is becoming increasingly challenging and critical, particularly in conveying accurate information on government policies, and the media should be given the freedom to convey all information, even in a critical manner. – Bernama, May 3, 2021
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