Malaysiakini journalists are allowed to enter the Parliament to observe its proceedings, but they should not approach any Barisan Nasional members of parliament and are barred from attending press conferences held there.

This was the 'advice' given by the Parliament security to the reporter from the web-based daily who was assigned to cover the Dewan Rakyat today.

"You can approach the opposition but you should not disturb the government members of parliament," parliament assistant security officer Mohd Sanusi Abdul Rahman told the journalist.

Sanusi dispensed this 'advice' when the malaysiakini journalist, who was refused entry in the Parliament this morning, had objected to it and was brought to see him.

The journalist had earlier tried to enter as a visitor as the online news website's application for an official press pass was rejected by the Information Ministry two years ago.

Don't ask questions

However, a security personnel recognised the journalist and refused to give him the visitor's pass, prompting the journalist's protest.

Reporters with a visitor's pass only have the status of an observer in the proceedings of the august institution, Sanusi said, adding that he will allow them to only take notes but not ask questions in press conferences.

According to him, malaysiakini journalists may not report on parliamentary affairs unless the Internet publication can produce proof of its press status for Parliament's consideration.

The officer told the daily to clarify its status with the house administration. "The problem is we do not know what the status of malaysiakini is."

When asked, Sanusi said that opposition party PAS' organ, Harakah , is allowed to do its job because it has a publication permit from the Home Ministry.

Application rejected

In 2000, the Internet daily's application for a press tag from the Information Ministry was rejected for want of a publishing licence from the Home Ministry.

However, there is no law that requires web publications to register with the ministry or be subject to its guidelines.

However, Sanusi conceded that if the news website could produce copies of the rejection letters from the authorities as well as the operating licence from Registrar of Companies, the administration may consider granting a media pass for its journalists.

Though not making any promises, the officer said he would bring up the matter with his superior, parliament administrative secretary Mohd Salleh Hassan, after malaysiakini produces the supporting documents.

"Give me half a day to discuss with my superior after that and I'll come back to you on the matter," he said.

The officer then instructed his subordinate to allow the malaysiakini reporter to enter the House using a visitor's pass.

Since its inception in late 1999, reporters from the daily had never faced any problems entering Parliament as press members despite the Home Ministry's announcement last year that it would bar "unaccredited press" from attending government functions.

Two other local news websites, Radiqradio and Agendadaily , as well as some journalists whose press accreditation cards have expired, are also affected by the re-enforced regulation.

Since last Wednesday, Parliament officials have implemented a get-tough policy requiring all press members to produce their official tags from the Information Ministry.

'Level-playing field'

Meanwhile, when asked to respond on this matter, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim questioned the authority of the security personnel in instructing journalists on "what to do and who not to talk to".

"On whose authority was the security officer acting? Parliament is a level-playing field where any journalist can perform his or her duty accordingly.

"Even the government cannot tell reporters what to write and who to talk to in Parliament. Telling a journalist that he or she can only speak to the opposition and not government MPs is very biased in itself.

"This is utterly preposterous. Parliament is supposed to be a non-biased environment. The officer's action is very biased," added the de facto law minister.