DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang is calling for a public inquiry into ntv7 senior producer Joshua Wong's resignation after claims of "political interference".

He also dismissed Prime Minister Najib Razak's denial of his wife Rosmah Mansor's role in the censorship as lacking in credibility.

NONE "If Najib is convinced that Rosmah is not involved, he should set up a public inquiry to clear her name and convince Malaysians that he is not setting a new precedent where the prime minister's wife is assuming the de facto role of a super minister spanning various ministries by openly intervening in public and government affairs," the veteran politician said in a statement today.

 "Does Najib agree that any involvement of the prime minister's wife in the media censorship of ntv7 talk show resulting in the resignation of Joshua Wong ( Ieft ) is completely unacceptable and undesirable?"

He also said that DAP's sole senator Tunku Abdul Aziz will raise the issue when the Senate meets next week.

NGOs slam 'media interference'

Various other NGOs also slammed this form of political pressure on the media.

"This troubling episode confirms the danger to free expresion when media ownership is heavily concentrated in the hands of a few, in this case Media Prima (owner of ntv7), which is closely associated with the ruling party," said the media watchdog arm of Aliran, the country's oldest human rights, social reform and independent media group.

Saluting Wong for his "resolute and unwavering stand on journalistic independence and professional integrity", Charter 2000-Aliran said that they are appalled by the continuing onslaught on freedom of expression.

"It does not augur well for the Najib administration, which professes and promises meaningful reforms for the country, when media freedom is still shackled not only by his own administration but also, if the allegation is true, by a member of his family," said coordinators Dr Mustafa K Anuar and Anil Netto.

Center for Policy Initiatives director Lim Teck Ghee also said that Najib should quickly clarify Rosmah's role and also reassure the public if the allegations turn out to be false.

"Wong's resignation should not be treated as another run-of-the-mill case of a middle-management media practitioner coming up against the stone wall of political masters and media owners dictating content.

"Instead, his resignation puts the spotlight on how corrupt the stifled system has become," said Lim.