English version

A group of local journalists who led a petition calling for press freedom in the country does not intend to engage in a debate with Information Ministry parliamentary secretary Zainuddin Maidin over his claim that no Malay journalist signed the memorandum.

Spokesperson Shaila Koshy, representing the 951 signatories from the local media, told malaysiakini today that they will not reveal the number of Malay journalists who signed the memorandum as it would be "an insult to the journalists of other races who signed the document".

The [#1] memorandum [/#] asking for the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 was submitted twice to Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in May 1999 and April 2000 in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day on May 3.

In a statement released today, Shaila said that "the Home Minister not only saw it fit to accept the memorandum in good faith in 1999 but to accept a second round of signatures and also to engage in a dialogue with six journalists representing the 951 journalists".

The first round in 1999 collected 581 signatures while the second amassed 370 more.

The six journalists, apart from Shaila who works for The Star , comprised Zainon Ahmad ( New Straits Times ), Joceline Tan (formerly of NST ), Jacqueline Ann Surin and K Parkaran (both from The Star ) and Khaidir Abd Majid.

Journalists' integrity questioned

Zainuddin, popularly known as Zam, had claimed at the launching of Said Zahari's book entitled Meniti Lautan Gelora - Sebuah Memoir Politik on Tuesday that there were no Malay journalists among those who signed the memorandum.

This prompted Shaila's rejoinder, reported in The Sun today, that "the statement was inaccurate because there were many senior Malay journalists who signed the memorandum".

She also refuted Zam's claim that the memorandum was instigated by a third party.

"Anyone who reads the memorandum will or can see our reasons for calling for a repeal of the Act," she said.

When contacted to comment on Shaila's statement in The Sun today, Zainuddin insisted that the group should question their integrity.

"(They should) ask themselves whether they have spoken the truth to the public or not," he said.

Eroding credibility

The memorandum questioned the eroding credibility of mainstream media, fueled by the political crisis following the sacking of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

"Of late, however, this credibility has been questioned, not just by the opposition parties and long-time critics of the establishment, but by ordinary members of the public.

"Troubling still are accusations that local journalists are merely a part of the government's propaganda machine and not professionals performing their duties to the best of their ability," it said.

The government was urged to abolish the Printing Presses and Publications Act in the memorandum, including "the arbitrary and absolute powers of the Home Ministry over the local press".