The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Malaysia has urged the government to recognise the existence of Internet citizen reporting and blogging as new media for disseminating information.

Commemorating World Press Freedom Day, NUJ president Norila Mohd Daud said that the online phenomenon has made a great impact in Malaysia as alternative information source on current events and issues affecting the public.

"The usage of internet and the concept of the uncensored 'borderless world' have made information more easily accessible to anyone.

"As such, any abuses committed by public officials can be immediately exposed on the Internet," she said in a statement.

She stressed that the growth of the new media channel for the public to express concern on government shortcomings is raising their stand and influence to that of the mainstream media.

"Although the Internet is filled with scores of information, yet any matter relating to public corruption and misuse of power by government officials will immediately highlight for public scrutiny and assessment on online forums and chat rooms.

"In that note, the union urges the government to ensure greater accountability, transparency and improve the current delivery system in meeting its sworn democratic duties," she said.

Asked to comment, National Alliance of Bloggers (All Blogs) pro-tem vice president Jeff Ooi said: "This is courageous for the NUJ to have woken from their deep slumber to acknowledge the role of bloggers in the country.

"Bloggers are part of the media ecosystem so there shouldn't be any discrimination against them," he told malaysiakini .

Not trouble makers

The alliance's pro-tem secretary Nuraina Samad lauded the union's statement and said it was 'positively encouraging'.

"From such a credible position, the NUJ has acknowledged our role in journalism. We'll see how the government responds

"I hope more people look at the matter from her perspective that Internet citizens and bloggers are qualified journalists and are not faceless trouble makers," she said.

Norila, who works for Utusan Malaysia, also said the government should accord greater freedom to the local media by amending restrictive laws such as Printing Presses and Publications Act, and Official Secret Act.

"The NUJ strongly feels that the enactment of a Freedom of Information Act can improve the flow of information between the government agencies, the media and the public," she added.

NUJ is the only organisation of working journalists in the country representing the industrial, social and welfare interest of some 1,400 journalists in the country.