Press freedom advocates today called for all journalists and Malaysians in general to give their backing to newly-elected National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president Hata Wahari, whose calls for an independent media resonate with the struggle for “a just and equitable” Malaysia.

flash mob read newspaper upside down 020510 wong chin huat “As the saying goes, the pen is mightier than the sword. Bereft of a transparent press and independent media to check and balance against the powers-that-be, Malaysia will not become a just and equitable society,” said Writers Alliance for Media Independence (Wami) and 1Muted Malaysia.

“Hata’s courage embodies the proper role of a journalist as that of a watchdog to safeguard public interest, rather than a government poodle.

“All fair-minded Malaysians and journalists must therefore fight this battle alongside Hata in order to regain media autonomy for the country,” said Wami chairperson Wong Chin Huat ( above ) and 1Muted Malaysia coordinator Josh Hong ( below ) in a joint-statement.

burma forum 101007 josh hong Hata, a senior journalist with Malay-daily Utusan Malaysia , raised the ire of several quarters when he criticised his newspaper’s top editors for seeking to fulfill the demands of their “political masters” rather than rise to the standards of an independent watchdog press.

Commenting on the public spat triggered by Utusan’s acerbic editorialising on issues of race and religion that have led to sharp rebukes by Pakatan Rakyat as well as and BN figures, Hata said the Umno-owned newspaper editors must exercise responsibility for the agenda, news and opinions it publishes.

The actions of the editors have direct implication on the estimated 1,000 staff members and their family members, said Hata in subtle reference to the daily's gradually declining circulation figures.

His remarks drew the ire of the Utusan Malaysia Veteran's Club president Raja Ahmad Niza Raja Ismail, who lambasted him for "going against the company".

Raja Ahmad had also urged Hata to resign from the company if the latter "insists on biting the hand that feeds him".

utusan report against nuj hata 230910 Malay group Perkasa also jumped into the fray, slamming the unionist and labelling him as being pro-Pakatan.

Wami and 1Muted Malaysia, however, commended Hata for “taking the bold stance and speaking out amidst an increasing climate of fear in the country” and proving himself to be “a hallmark of professional journalism.”

They also compared Hata to the legendary Said Zahari, who led Utusan in the 1950s and the early 1960s in “taking the government to task over misconducts and shortcomings.”

Hata’s position that both BN and Pakatan should not be allowed to interfere in the editorial operations of the press resonated with Wami’s stand that “the government is duty-bound to ensure expression of political views, no matter how unpopular these views are.”

nuj new president hata wahari “Instead of demonizing Hata ( left ) or even taking action against him, Utusan’s top management should learn to value and cherish honest journalists that are few and far between in Malaysia.”

Wami and 1Muted Malaysia also reiterated its calls for “earnest media law reform”, including by the removal of the draconian Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the Sedition and the Official Secrets Acts (OSA).