Contrary to claims of liberalisation, the cancellation of the publication permit for the portal FZ.com 's print version shows that the government still holds media with an “iron fist”, said a group of journalists.

 

Gerakan Media Marah (Geramm) said the permit cancellation days after recently suspended weekly The Heat resumed publication also shows the government's lackadaisal approach to press freedom.

Geramm said that the cancellation is even more unjustifiable considering that FZ Daily has yet to hit newsstands and is owned by seasoned publisher The Edge Communications.

Media tycoon Tong Kooi Ong ( left ) on his blog revealed that FZ Daily's permit was cancelled hours after the published was granted leave to initiate proceedings against the Home Ministry over the deferment of its initial permit approval. The Home Ministry did not give reasons.

“(The) credibility of The Edge Communications as its publisher is unquestionable as they have been a major industry player and has established its credibility among the public,” it said.

Geramm asserted that publications permit rules have long been a bane for Malaysian media, despite relaxation of the annual renewal requirement.

Opposition party organs Harakah and Suara Keadilan had their permits suspended in 2009 and 2010, while news portal Malaysiakini' s application to publish its print version has been repeatedly dismissed.

Malaysiakini took the Home Ministry to court, resulting in an Oct 30, 2013 Appeals Court ruling which states that a publication permit is a right instead of a privilege.

 

“Geramm wishes to remind the government of a precedent set in a case between Malaysiakini versus the Home Ministry with regards to rights of a publisher to obtain a printing permit,” it said.

The group also condemned police investigations involving FZ.com reporter Azril Annuar over a news report he wrote quoting PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli.

Terming it as “harrassment”, the group slammed police for taking “an easy way out” through interrogating journalists instead of directly contacting persons whose statements are being probed.

 

Azril was questioned for two hours today and will be passing over a transcript of his interview with Rafizi tomorrow .

“We therefore stress that a journalist's responsibility is to report "as is" and (that a journalist) is merely a messenger of information.

“If this trend continues, it can impede our duties to report without fear or favour,” it said.

To protest the continuous breach on press freedom, the group thus called on supporters to don red every Wednesday to commemorate the day FZ's permit was revoked – Wednesday, Feb 5, 2014.

“Geramm calls upon all Malaysians, especially media practitioners seeking freedom of the press regardless of organisation, to once again wear red as a symbol of protest against the government and to give support to FZ Daily just as we did during The Heat ’s suspension,” it said.

It also urges supporters to join its social media campaign with the hashtag #FZDaily.