Two press freedom watchdogs have today marked World Press Freedom Day by calling on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to reveal a road map on media freedom in Malaysia.

The road map should begin with an immediate halt to censorship of news and the suspension on the use of the licensing provision in the Printing Presses and Publications Act to ban publications, said Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Writer Alliance for Media Independence (Wami).

world press freedom day 2006 “The time is right for reforms in media freedom and freedom of expression as the Malaysian public grows more discerning and demanding for a freer and more democratic society,” said the two organisations in a press statement.

“We expect to see a road map presented to the public by August that contains plans and timelines for what will be done to reform the areas of media freedom and access to information.

“We want to know when and not if, the government will begin its review of the laws that affect freedom of expression," said CIJ executive director V Gayathry.

“Following this, by November, the government should table a bill to amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act to provide for a one-time registration for media outlets and to reinstate/include judicial review of the minister's decision with regard to issuance of permit,” said Wami spokesperson Wong Chin Huat.

“At the same time, Najib should first set up a Parliamentary Select Committee to review media laws."

Najib’s ‘gross inconsistent’ with 1Malaysia

They also slammed Najib of being “gross inconsistent” with his 1Malaysia concept with the latest restriction on the Internet media by the Barisan Nasional state government in Perak.

The new Perak government has banned Internet media, including Malaysiakini, from covering the state assembly meeting when it convenes on May 7.

“We note worryingly that despite the rhetoric of openness in ‘1Malaysia’, the new PM administration is reversing the former PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's recognition to professionally-run Internet media by regularly restricting them from covering official functions,” said the statement.

However late this evening, Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir announced that all restrictions on the press in covering the assembly sitting have been lifted, including the ban on bloggers and online media.

The two organisations have also ticked of new Information Minister Rais Yatim for implicitly threatening bloggers and online commentators with the Communication and Multimedia Act.

They called for the enactment of a 'Right to Information Law' by May 2011 as part of the press freedom road map.