YOURSAY ‘MCMC has no right to stop Anwar’s interview by BFM.’

BFM barred from airing Anwar interview

Slumdog: When you think that Umno and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) or any of its agencies cannot descend deeper into the depths of depravity, they surprise us even further by the extent of their evil, malicious and cruel behaviour by banning BFM from broadcasting its interview with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim on the Kajang by-election.

Let us also not forget MCMC’s petty-mindedness and spitefulness in not allowing the rakyat to hear what Anwar has to say. This is an affront to free speech, but on the other hand, what would Umno know about democratic principles.

Ferdtan: No wonder Malaysia hit record low in press freedom index in which had just been compiled by Reporters Without Borders, falling from 145th position to 147 as compared to a year ago.

Imagine our standard, not only comparable to Myanmar, but worse than them at an improved ranking of 145.

MCMC has no right to stop Anwar’s interview by radio station BFM. MCMC, get this in your thick head - this is not campaigning.

Interview is not campaigning. Giving views is not campaigning. I don’t see any other reason for them to bar BFM from airing the interview.

Radio stations and newspapers have to be creative to keep their customers happy and interested by providing them with hot news.

The most talked-about news today is the coming Kajang by-election, so why can’t they talk to the candidate himself?

Malaysia is fast becoming a dysfunctional nation when you have leaders, both in government and its governing institutes, talking without logic and reasons.

Jiminy Qrikert: Excellent move, MCMC. The more BN is seen attempting to prevent DSAI (Anwar) from reaching out to the rakyat, the more the rakyat will seek him out to hear him speak. MCMC is helping DSAI big time with this ban.

A big thank you to BFM for this podcast. Watch out though, MCMC could ask you to remove the interview from your website.

But hey, not a problem. We have got the 28MB file and that is going out to as many people as possible. Thanks BFM.

Kilgore: BFM is by far the most intelligent and progressive radio station in Malaysia. (Not to mention, the most interesting and tasteful music playlist, IMHO).

It's no surprise they are being picked on. The last thing the powers-that-be want is an educated public. Thank you to all at BFM. Keep up the good fight.

MalaysiansOwnThisLand: Pathetic! Why is the government so fearful of Anwar? The more you ban, the less support you get.

Kim Quek: This incident is just another reminder of how authoritarian Malaysia is.

The people have very little means to seek justice when virtually all the institutions and the entire government machinery have been reduced to play roles of political stooges to the ruling power.

In such a bleak scenario, there is, however, one ray of light. And that is our votes, which can be turned into powerful agent of change if used prudently.

Use them fully in the coming Kajang by-election to send a loud message that we have had enough of BN’s tyrannical rule, and that the nation is ready for change.

Debater: Those in MCMC are still living in the Stone Age. In today’s Internet environment, there is no possibility of censorship.

In fact, by banning it makes people more aware and eager to hear the interview. It would get the government more brownie points if MCMC realises it is an impossibility these days to censor the Internet.

Gen2: It is normal practice for radio stations to submit a list of guests and topics, but is it a legal requirement? If not, why bother.

Fair Play: There is hope yet for the right-thinking rakyat. The powers-that-be and those supervisory agencies that are 'independent' or otherwise really, really fear DSAI.

Would the Kajang by-election emerge as a 'One-Man Tsunami' in our nation's political landscape?

Meh: Since when has MCMC taken upon itself to dabble in partisan politics. This is obviously the work of the supremacist Umno.

I think Pakatan Rakyat must take the MCMC to court and sue the pants off MCMC plus damages. You must teach them a lesson that a publicly financed entity funded by taxpayers must act in the interest of the public and the public is entitled to listen to Anwar, whether we agree or disagree with him.

The legal bureau of Pakatan must get to work immediately. Pakatan must do this as a test case so that all government entities remain neutral rather than take sides.

Angry_Voter: As if being ranked below Myanmar is not enough. These guys are really going for broke. Soon, there will only be porn in Malaysian news.

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