Malaysiakini was barred by the Transport Ministry today from attending a press conference called by its minister Dr Ling Liong Sik on the long delayed monorail project.

"You are not invited. You are not welcome," an assistant of Ling identified only as Mr Ong, told a malaysiakini journalist who tried to enter the press conference scheduled for 1.45pm at the ministry's premises at Wisma Perdana in Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

Normally the press are alerted to press conferences and other government functions by Bernama via its daily diary of events.

When malaysiakini pressed for a reason why it had not been invited, Ong said that its reporting was unbalanced.

"You were not invited because your reporting is biased," said Ong.

When asked if there were any other reasons, he replied, "That's the reason."

Eight other reporters were present when Ong was explaining to malaysiakini why it was not allowed into the press conference Dr Ling had planned following the weekly Cabinet meeting today.

When asked why malaysiakini was not given an official explanation for not being 'invited', Ong replied that he had already given invitations to other presses.

'Not welcome'

When malaysiakini then informed Ong that the press conference was not via invitation but through what had been posted by Bernama, Ong reiterated that malaysiakini was not invited.

Earlier the malaysiakini reporter met Ling at the elevator lobby of Wisma Perdana, and was also told by Ling that malaysiakini was not welcome.

"You are not welcome. I am serious, you are not welcome," Ling stressed to the malaysiakini reporter.

On another occasion on Nov 24 after officiating the Kuala Lumpur International Motor show, Ling had told malaysiakini that certain questions should only be asked in parliament and if not malaysiakini would be escorted from the premises where he was holding a press conference.[#1](Reporter told he may have to leave PC[/#], Nov 24)

"Today is on the exhibition, not on Parliament, you should ask me this in Parliament, if you can't, then I will have to ask you to leave," Ling told the malaysiakini reporter.

Malaysiakini had asked Ling if the number of Proton models produced was in fact too little to make an impact on the international market, as recently stated by Ministry of International Trade and Industry parliamentary secretary Fu Ah Kiow in the Nov 21 sitting of Parliament. [#2](Proton gagal bersaing: MITI[/#], Nov 21)