The Coalition for Press Freedom (CPF), a grouping of media NGOs formed in response to the suspension of newspapers under the Edge Media Group, has urged the public to back its #AtTheEdge rally this Saturday.

"CPF hopes that Malaysians from all walks of life can join us in our march from Pasar Seni to the Bar Council Building on Aug 8, at 11am, as part of the democratic right to peaceful assembly," it said in a statement today.

The rally is to protest the suspension of The Edge Financial Daily and The Edge Weekly for three months by the Home Ministry for their critical reporting of 1MDB.

The coalition is also concerned about talks to further restrict media freedom by Prime Minister Najib Abul Razak's newly-appointed cabinet last Tuesday.

"Just a week after the suspensions, Najib and a few ministers have proposed the need for tougher restrictions on the internet, in particular social media.

"CPF stresses that the internet is an important medium in a developing democracy - be it for the government, news organisation, writers or the rakyat in general," it said.

Not forced to live in fear

CPF said while it concurred that the public must evaluate the information fairly, it can only be done if access of information is allowed by the government.

"If the rakyat is not forced to live in fear when they voice their opinions and the authorities are more transparent in their duties, then we will be able to move towards a society where respectful and constructive open debate can happen," it said.

CPF said a first step to this would be for the government to reveal the drafts to amend the internet laws.

CPF is a lose coalition comprising  Gerakan Media Marah (Geramm), Foreign Correspondents Club of Malaysia (FCCM), Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) dan Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF).