Three years ago, journalists handed a petition to the home affairs minister, expressing concern of accusations that they were "merely a part of the government's propaganda machine and not professionals performing their duties to the best of their ability".

The petition noted "that this perception, rightly or wrongly, has resulted in more and more people turning to alternative sources of information; namely, the Internet, foreign news reports as well as opposition party publications..."

They proposed an independent press council to replace the Printing Presses and Publications Act.

In response, the government accepted the council proposal, but not the demand to repeal the printing law.

This, we strongly object a press council cannot operate in an environment where restrictive press laws remain. We do not want yet another mechanism of control over the media.

This year, journalists followed up on their petition with a memorandum to Suhakam, also on May 3, World Press Freedom Day.

The memo reiterated: "We categorically reject statutory control of the media in an environment where other institutions of democracy are hampered from playing a robust role in checking abuse of power".

Three things

The message is clear. It is essential for human rights commissions to promote freedom of expression as a key element in the development of an information society.

Sadly though, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, or Suhakam, has not done much in this area. I was recently asked at a forum to spell out what the commission has accomplished on press freedom since its inception two years ago.

My answer: three things nothing, nothing and nothing. Suhakam commissioner Mahadev Shankar, who was not present during my speech, later pulled me up.

"I heard that you criticised Suhakam again," he said. "If I was there, I'd have said, 'I agree'."

This week's Suhakam press freedom workshop is nevertheless a good start.

However, as we gather together to discuss the issue of press freedom, one thing should be made clear especially to Suhakam commissioners press freedom is as much a lifeblood to human rights commissions as it is to journalists.

You, too, have a stake in press freedom. Without this freedom, human rights commissions will find themselves shut out when dealing with a hostile regime that has the media under its thumb.

And Malaysia is only but one example.

We are not, in principle, opposed to political parties owning the media. After all, political parties in Malaysia run businesses, even universities.

That said, there must be a level playing field for all media organisations.

Abolish the Printing Presses and Publications Act. Do away with the licencing regime. Let there be a free market of ideas. Let us compete on equal terms. And let Malaysians decide for themselves who is telling the truth and who is lying.

Only a press which has a diversity of opinion and ownership can be really said to be free.

True, we live in a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious society. There should be checks against hate speech. But history has shown that the purveyors of hate speech are often politicians, not journalists.

Over the past three years, malaysiakini has shown that journalists, free from government censorship, can still be responsible.

Right to information

So what can Suhakam do? Yes, three things.

One, call for the abolition of the PPPA.

Two, examine all existing laws which impinge on press freedom.

The only advantage malaysiakini has over the traditional media is that we need not apply for a publication licence. There are indeed many other restrictive laws that keep both the traditional media and news websites in check.

The number of such laws which directly and indirectly impinge on press freedom in Malaysia is, not five or 10, but 35.

Such a study can be done by the commission's law reform committee.

And three, recommend Parliament to pass a freedom of information act. This will ensure that citizens have the right to know.

I have said this time and again: Press freedom is like toothpaste once it is out, it's difficult to put it back in.

Our job as journalists is to squeeze a blob of press freedom out from the tube. Suhakam's job is give us a hand. And the government's job is to not stand in our way.

The above is part of a speech given at the Suhakam press freedom workshop today.