The government should abolish the restrictive Printing Presses and Publications Act rather than consider amendments to the Act to include controls over the Internet, said opposition leader Lim Kit Siang today.

"To mark the 2001 World Press Freedom Day (this Thursday), Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should make a parliamentary statement on the outcome of a petition handed in by journalists two years ago to abolish the Act," said the DAP chairperson in a statement.

The petition, signed by 951 local journalists, called for the Act to be repealed so as to allow local media to take on a more independent role and arrest their perceived declining credibility.

It was handed to Abdullah in his capacity as Home Affairs Minister, in two parts, in 1999 and 2000. The minister had said then that he would read the petition and inform the journalists of his views.

Lim said the petition debunked the government's claim that local media were free and independent and that local journalists were proud or willing agents of a muzzled press.

"Abdullah should not resort to the hackneyed, sterile and fallacious arguments that there can be no place for absolute or unlimited press freedom in Malaysia.

"No one is asking for absolute press freedom above the law but only for more press freedom without which there can be no true transparency, accountability, good governance and rule of law," said Lim.

'Greatest threat'

Lim also said that in was unfortunate that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had announced that the Act will be reviewed to tighten press laws in the country, especially pertaining to online media, even before Abdullah could have his say on the petition.

Mahathir announced about two weeks ago that the Act needed to be made more relevant after claiming that messages have been posted on the Internet calling for his death.

Lim said that by calling for the review in order to control the Internet, the government would be violating the Multimedia Super Corridor Bill of Guarantee which promises no Internet censorship.

He added that by calling for more press control, Mahathir has "now undoubtedly become the greatest threat to press freedom in his 20 years as the premier".

"Abdullah should let the Parliament know the outcome of his study into the petition and should commit the government to more press freedom," said Lim, adding that the minister must also explain who is conducting the review of the Act on Internet controls and whether the government will explain its intentions for such a review.

Lim also urged the government to formally recognise World Press Freedom Day, which falls annually on May 3.