Malaysia should celebrate World Press Freedom Day in other more conspicuous and significant ways rather than having the country's prime minister named as an 'enemy' of the press, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said today.

He was responding to Dr Mahathir Mohamad's inclusion, for the third year in a row, in a list called 'Enemies of the Press for 2001' drawn up by the New York-based international media watchdog, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

CPJ released the list in conjunction with the World Press Freedom Day today, stating that Mahathir was "openly contemptuous of press freedom" and had manipulated Malaysian media to "cement his hold on power".

As a more meaningful alternative, Lim said in his statement the Barisan Alternatif (BA) should discuss with journalists and non-governmental organsiations to present a Bill on the setting-up of a Media Council.

He said such a media council was imperative "to ensure a free, independent and responsible press in the country".

"The Parliament should also debate whether or not Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad merits being named among the top 10 'enemies' of the press for the third consecutive year," said Lim.

'Outrageous'

In another statement, Lim said the statement by Deputy Home Affairs Minister Zainal Abidin Zin in Parliament yesterday that family members and the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) can visit the 10 reformasi activists detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) only after completion of police investigations was "meaningless and outrageous".

"The minister's statement means that family members and Suhakam will be allowed to visit the ISA detainees only after the end of the 60-day interrogative period," he said.

He said that family members would then most probably have to visit the detainees at the police Kamunting detention centre in Perak.

Lim said that past police practice was to allow family members access at the end of the second week or at the beginning of the third week of arrest. It is now 22 days since the first batch of the seven reformasi activists were arrested.

Zainal had said in Parliament that access to the 10 detainees would be allowed, but he did not specify any time frame.

The 10, comprising eight Keadilan leaders and two social activists, were arrested following a police crackdown which began on April 10. Police chief Norian Mai said that they were arrested planning to overthrow the government by militant means and mass street demonstrations.