Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang has been urged to initiate efforts to outlaw monopoly of the media and ensure that it is free of political ownership.

The Writers' Alliance for Media Independence (Wami) spokesperson Josh Hong said Lim should table Private Members Bill to call on political parties to relinquish their ownership and outlaw monopoly in the industry.

Wami also submitted a three-page memorandum to the opposition leader at the parliament lobby yesterday in conjunction with the third anniversary of the take over of Nanyang Press Holdings by MCA.

The political party acquired Nanyang, the publisher of China Press and Nanyang Siang Pau , amid strong objections from the community in 2001.

MCA also owns Malaysia's leading English newspaper, the Star , while Umno, via proxy, owns New Straits Times Press (NSTP) which publishes Berita Harian , New Straits Times , Malay Mail and Harian Metro .

"NSTP, for instance, has under its belt four major national newspapers, a situation that in our view is very unhealthy in terms of the access to information and news," said Hong.

He cited sole satellite television provider Astro as another negative example of media monopoly in view of the station's move to hike its subscription fees.

Meanwhile, Hong also urged the opposition leader to table a Private Members Bill seeking for the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act to replace the 'oft-abused' Official Secrets Act.

Columnists banned

The activists also raised concerns over the ban imposed on several Chinese newspaper columnists and wanted an explanation from the Home Ministry.

He said it was in the interest of the Malaysian public to know why the opinions and arguments of the writers concerned should pose a threat to our national security and public order.

Hong expressed hope that the opposition leader would act on Wami's requests.

"Immediately after you won the Ipoh Timor parliamentary seat in the March 2004 general election, you promised the nation that DAP would be an effective and responsible opposition.

"We welcome your pledge as such, and are of the view that one way that can help you achieve this goal is by pressing the government to set our media and our press free, so that they will be free of political ownership, media monopoly and the culture of fear among Malaysians, once and for all," he said.

Upon receiving the memorandum, Lim said he will study the content and "see how he could further press for this achievement".

He said there was no doubt that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi greatly neglected the issue of press freedom since assuming the premiership late last year.

On Wami's calls for tabling the Private Members Bill, he said: "Unless there are changes in the Parliament's standing orders, the Private Members Bill is always there (in the order paper) only".

At present, priorities in the standing orders are given to government-related issues and a motion from an opposition can only find its way to the House if given way by the government.