There is little cheer in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s recent announcement on reforms for the media as its freedom remains restricted, said Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan.

“Yes, Najib has decided to not require newspapers to renew their licence every year, but still they can take away your licence anytime they want - they don’t need to wait for you to renew your licence to do that.

“There is really very little change. What we see is just cosmetic change.”

malaysiakini and merdekareview subscription plan lauching 200911 steven gan Speaking at the launch of a joint venture between news portals Malaysiakini Chinese edition and Merdeka Review to go subscription in Kuala Lumpur last night, Gan ( left ) related the difficult decision of its English edition adopting the same move nine years ago.

“I have said, time and again, independent media need independent financing. Subscription contributes to a major part of Malaysiakini ’s operations. We went subscription in 2002. We did it because we had no choice. It was a last-ditch attempt to ensure the survival of Malaysiakini .”

Referring to an editorial he wrote during those difficult times, Gan said Malaysiakini would opt for a print publication anytime as it was more sustainable, but getting a licence from the government and keeping it would have been a serious hurdle at that time - and still is.

malaysiakini and merdekareview subscription plan lauching 200911 audience 02 He added that the Internet age has largely benefited media companies such as Facebook and Google, but news content providers have faced difficult challenges.

“Online media in Malaysia cannot continue to rely on the generosity of a few rich tycoons - partly because we know how fickle they can be.

"So, without your support, there will be no independent media in Malaysia.

" Malaysiakini journalists - joined by those from Merdeka Review - have made their choice. We now leave it to readers of Malaysiakini's Chinese site and Merdeka Review to make theirs.”

‘Sustainable model for Chinese news portal’

The joint venture comes after Merdeka Review sent out a call for financial help in May, following its funders’ decision to abruptly pull out.

malaysiakini and merdekareview subscription plan lauching 200911 lim hoong siang Stepping in for Merdeka Review ’s editor-in-chief Chan Wai See who was unwell, its Malay edition chief editor Lim Hoong Siang ( right ) thanked its readers for raising some RM300,000 since the crisis, allowing the news portal to operate until the year end.

“I would like to thank my collegues in Merdeka Review for their perseverance and persistence during our dark times, giving Merdeka Review and its readers a chance. From the time we faced the financial trouble until now, not a single staff member has left us.

“The joint implementation by Malaysiakini ’s Chinese edition and Merdeka Review of this subscription model is a first step in exploring a sustainable path and a celebration of our rebirth,” Lim said.

malaysiakini and merdekareview subscription plan lauching 200911 registering 04 Echoing this, Malaysiakini ’s Chinese edition chief editor Yong Kai Ping said the move ensures that “the people will be our boss and we will not need to pander to any owners in producing quality journalism”.

“By teaming up (for the subscription model), Malaysiakini ’s Chinese edition can reduce the burden of depending on the English edition and Merdeka Review will not need to rely on an investor.

“There may be some readers who are not used to a subscription model, after having free access to our sites for a long time... but press freedom and quality journalism do not exist in a vacuum, we need to create the physical environment for it,” Yong said.

With the new model, subscribers will be able to access both Malaysiakini ’s Chinese edition and Merdeka Review at the price of a single subscription.

‘Editorial independence to remain’

However, Yong stressed that despite the unified subscription system, both news portals would maintain their editorial independence.

malaysiakini and merdekareview subscription plan lauching 200911 01 “We are only cooperating as business partners - we do not hold each other’s shares. We will continue to be independent and focus on our different specialities.

“Between the two news portals, Malaysiakini has the advantage of speed and breaking news whereas Merdeka Review traditionally specialises in in-depth analyses and special issues,” he said.

Malaysiakini and Merdeka Review , which rank as the second and fourth most read Chinese language news portals respectively, will have a combined readership of a million unique hits.

malaysiakini and merdekareview subscription plan lauching 200911 yong kai ping Yong ( left ) encouraged readers to support the two Chinese news portals.

“I appeal to readers to subscribe and advertise on our news portals in support of press freedom and diverse news perspectives.

“Over the last six years, both portals have played a significant role producing news on angles different from the Chinese language mainstream media and sometimes, even the mainstream media follow the agenda set by the news portals. This helps to expand the space of press freedom.”

The subscription scheme begins on Oct 3, but readers can start subscribing now for as low as RM15 a month. The full subscription packages can be viewed here .

NONE Readers who opt for the one-year package will get a copy of the forthcoming ‘Bersih Stories’ in its Chinese version and subscribers of the two-year package will likewise get the same, on top of a copy of ‘Even My Pen has a Stand’ by award-winning cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaq, more popularly known as Zunar, while stocks last.

In addition, existing subscribers of Malaysiakini 's English site will enjoy a 30 percent discount or a six-month extension when subscribing to the Chinese-language package and vice-versa.