The flashmob for media freedom movement struck again, this time in the heart of Kuala Lumpur as about 20 gathered at Central Market to protest against media censorship.

NONE While last weekend the ‘flashmobbers’ read mainstream newspapers upside down , the group today they added cardboard television sets painted with the logos of TV3, RTM and ntv7 the wrong side up to indicate that even broadcast media are muzzled.

The group, made up mostly of student members of the New Era College Progressive Front, baffled passers-by as they walked around with their upside-down newspapers and props for about 15 minutes, ending with the cry ‘kebebasan media’ (press freedom).

Octogenarian Mohamad Yunus was quick to spot the ‘strange’ happening but told Malaysiakini that he was none-the-wiser still about what was going on.

NONE Without pamphlets to explain what they were protesting against, the flashmobbers could only try to explain themselves to some of the people who interested enough to ask.

However, upon hearing the explanation most people expressed support and happily donned the yellow ribbons - worn in support of freedom of expression - which the flashmobbers were handing out.

A 22-year-old kiosk operator who only wanted to be known as Wan said that while he is not exactly certain about the protest, he knows it had something to do with government censorship.

"Media freedom is an issue because we know there are things that should be highlighted that are not allowed to be aired," he said.

Boycott mainstream media on May 28

A flashmob is a group of strangers who organise themselves, using electronic media such as cell phones or the Internet, to gather together in a public place for a brief period and quickly disperse.

NONE Unlike last week's event, the activity was spared police disruption   or being hijacked by others, like a group of Umno Youth members who had instead read opposition party newspapers Harakah and Suara Keadilan upside down to prove their point.

Speaking to Malaysiakini later, participant and former ntv7 producer who resigned in protest against  political interference, Joshua Wong ( left in pix ) said that the event will be turned into weekend affair in May as a lead up to May 28.

NONE "We are inviting people to switch off their television sets from 8pm to 9pm, and to boycott all mainstream newspapers on May 28," he said.

He added that they are now planning to hold an entertainment event on the same theme at the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall to coincide with the boycott.

"Since people won't be able to watch TV then, we're inviting them to join us for some song and dance," he said.

Similar flashmob in Penang

NONE Event organiser and media student Chai Yee Loon ( right ) said that some of the participants had travelled from other states like Penang to join their flashmob after seeing the message passed around on social networking site Facebook.

Interestingly, a similar event was held concurrently in Penang today, although Chai said both groups had organised themselves separately.

According to Wong, while the groups are independent of each other, it is part of an attempt to mobilise university and college students nationwide on the issue.

"We want to let people know that there is a media blackout happening in Malaysia, and I am quite satisfied with the response so far," he said.

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