The introduction of a Freedom of Information Act as well as the repeal of various repressive laws are among the reforms proposed by a newly launched citizen's initiative to promote media freedom in Malaysia.

It also urged for the establishment of a truly independent self-regulated media council similar to those found in neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

It stated that the council members should comprise media personnel, government and opposition representatives, human rights workers, lawyers and representatives of the public.

[#1] Charter2000 [/#], consisting of a group of Malaysian individuals and organisations, are committed to the promotion of a media charter to raise public awareness and seek to mobilise civil society to lobby for reforms.

"The charter is the expression of the people's desire for free and responsible media in Malaysia and it demands reforms to the media environment so that ordinary people can truly exercise their rights to freedom of information and freedom of expression," said its joint coordinator Anil Netto to malaysiakini .

Chilling effect

"The media council will act on all complaints and disputes involving the media, protect the media from interference from those with vested interests, and empower and provide access to marginalised groups," stated the charter.

The charter calls for the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publication Act, the Internal Security Act, the Official Secrets Act, the Sedition Act, the University and University Colleges Act, and repressive clauses in all other legislation.

It said that these draconian laws have a chilling effect on media freedom and deter journalists from carrying out independent, investigative journalism while making editors exercise extra caution and practise self-censorship.

"Of late, powerful political and business interests have resorted to filing multimillion-ringgit libel suits as a way of penalising and silencing journalists and others who write critically of those interests."

The charter stipulated that the government must cease to require publishers and printing firms to obtain licences to publish. It must also enact legislation to prevent the award of excessive libel damages as a way of silencing critical journalism.

The charter also called for the cessation of abuse and manipulation of publicly-owned media (such as Radio Television Malaysia) by the ruling coalition and sought the Parliament to enact legislation to vest the publicly-owned media with a high degree of independence in terms of funding, appointments, agenda and priorities, and news content.

"We demand accountable, independent publicly-owned media with institutionalised safeguards."

Seeking reforms

Netto said that the citizen's media initiative to lobby for reforms was mooted by Penang-based human rights NGO Aliran last year following concerns over the diminishing space for media freedom in Malaysia.

He added that the Charter2000 emulated the highly successful Citizens' Healthcare Initiative (CHI) which has been credited for stopping the impending corporatisation of general hospitals in 1999.

The process of seeking media reform, he said, began when a small group of concerned individuals - Aliran members and non-members including mass communication students - met in the Aliran office in September 2000.

"The group proposed that a media charter be prepared similar to the CHI manifesto. By Sept 27, the first draft of Charter2000 was produced and then circulated to a number of journalists, academics and activists," Netto said.

He said that this followed the setting up of an email discussion group for members to circulate articles relevant to media freedom and discuss concepts such as media freedom, objectivity, balanced reporting, media independence, and activist journalism.

"It will serve as a blueprint in our quest to claim what is after all our basic right to freedom of information and expression."

He said that at present there are about 100 members in the e-mail discussion group, adding that Charter2000 will seek the endorsement of various groups for the initiatives.

Broad support

"The charter covers all forms of media and we are still seeking feedback from every concerned person on ways to make it more comprehensive," he said.

"We firmly believe that all sectors of society - government, the public, and the existing media community - will benefit from a reformed media. We therefore call for the broadest support for this initiative and participation from all levels of society," said Netto.

He added that based on the principles contained in the charter, specific and co-ordinated actions will be necessary to build solidarity among groups and individuals concerned about media freedom.

The actions include getting diverse groups and prominent individuals to endorse the charter and holding a series of meetings and workshops aimed at pursuing the demands of this charter, leading to the establishment of a people's tribunal to probe and document complaints of media abuse and to publicise the findings.

Netto also said that methods to realise the demands of the charter would include boycott of media that propagate lies and distortions as well as public boycott of the products advertised in those media.

A co-ordinated media watch will be established to expose lies and distortions in the media, and demonstrations and police reports will be filed against media organisations that persist in publishing or broadcasting lies and distortions.