A series of programmes will be organised by Malaysian journalists in conjunction with the May 3 World Press Freedom Day to highlight challenges faced by the profession.

To mark the official commencement of the programmes, some 100 journalists will be present at the office of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) tomorrow to submit a memorandum asking for a repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

The memorandum, signed by about 1,000 journalists, had been submitted to Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 1999 and 2000.

On May 10, the National Union of Journalists will hold a forum with the Bar Council to discuss issues of press restrictions in Malaysia. Speakers will include Bar Council human rights sub-committee member Cecil Rajendra and malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan.

Another key event that has been planned to highlight issues of press freedom is a vigil at the MCA headquarters to commemorate the first anniversary of the takeover of Nanyang Press Holdings Bhd by the party on May 28 last year.

The takeover of the company which publishes two Chinese dailies, Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press , was met last year by strong opposition within the Chinese community, and led to a publicised split of MCAs leaders into two camps.

A celebration of music and skits will also be held on May 11.

Press freedom wall

Meanwhile, as a prelude to the programmes, a press freedom wall was unveiled today by United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Param Cumarasamy at the malaysiakini office in Kuala Lumpur.

The press freedom wall is an exhibit of a series of publications dating back to the late 1940s which were banned from distribution by the government, citing powers under restrictive press laws.

May 3 was first declared as the World Press Freedom Day in 1993 by the United Nations General Assembly under the recommendation of a 1991 UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) resolution on Promotion of press freedom in the world.

The resolution was passed to recognise that a free, pluralistic and independent press was an essential component of any democratic society.

The May 3 event is also intended by the UN to remind the public of violations of the right to freedom of expression and that many journalists around the work risk their lives by professional choice, in an effort to promote the free flow of information, by asserting press freedom on behalf of all members of society.