Sacked Utusan Melayu Bhd journalist Hata Wahari led about 20 reporters, supporters and members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in which he sits as president, on a ‘Nasi Lemak protest' against his former employer in Kuala Lumpur today.

hata wahari nasi lemak protest "If we go to stalls we often hear how people say that all Utusan is good for is for wrapping nasi lemak in.

"This is about how crappy their news is. We are doing this the peaceful way, in a symbolic way,” Hata, who received the letter of dismissal today from Utusan Melayu, told a press conference prior to the event.

“If we do extreme things like burning their papers, it may not be heeded. This way we hope, they'll take notice," he added.

Hata, who last September was elected to lead NUJ, said the struggle for the media in Malaysia is not only to free it from the yoke of government control, but for the industry and Malaysian journalism to grow and be able to contribute to the GDP, as the media industry in developed countries like the US and UK do their national economies.

hata wahari nasi lemak protest The boisterous but low-key affair did not face interference from Utusan guards or the police.

A lone Special Branch officer who stood a distance away was the only representative of the law.

The event which began at 5pm ended about one hour later. It was calculated to coincide with the NUJ’s Press Freedom Day.

By coincidence, May 2 is also Hata's birthday.

NUJ president sacked from Utusan