It's a catch 22 situation.

The public looks to the law for protection and expects lawyers and legislators to lead the charge for change. But these very lawyers and legislators are looking to citizens to provide the impetus instead.

Laws like Official Secrets Act, Internal Security Act, Printing Presses and Publications Act and Sedition Act remain draconian and are incompatible with press freedom and access to information.

So who is responsible for bringing about change - the Bar Council? Parliamentarians? Apparently not.

Lawyer Amer Hamzah said the Bar Council has no plans to start anything on press freedom but added that an event cataclysmic enough might do the trick. He cited the proposed formation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission as a result of the 'Squatgate' fiasco and years of legal lobbying.

The Bar Council is pressing ahead with the proposal despite resistance because of the enormous public outcry over alleged indiscipline in the police force.

In essence, the ball is back in the public court as far as press freedom is concerned. The Bar Council, said Amer, can only help if individuals raise the issue.

However, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy secretary-general Xavier Jeyakumar said greater strides may be made if more voices demand press freedom through Parliament. He added that NGOs play an important role in creating public awareness of press freedom.

Similarly, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said the opposition cannot do anything without the people's mandate. She passed on responsibility to the Barisan Nasional (BN) majority in Parliament to take up the issue. Also, she questioned whether journalists themselves are fighting for press freedom.

BN representatives could not be contacted for comment.

Parliamentary caucus?

Answering the call for public responsibility, Writers Alliance for Media Independence (Wami) had, on May 3, proposed that a parliamentary select committee be set up for press freedom.

According to a Merdeka Review report on May 22, several parliamentarians have voiced their support. Among them were Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR), Kamaruddin Jaafar (PAS), Chong Eng, Kok (DAP) and Wong Nai Chee (MCA).

The statement also said that opposition parliamentarians can do more than wait for BN to take the initiative.

"The 35 percent of voters who voted for the opposition in 2004 would be greatly disappointed if they resign thmselves to their numerical minority and do not strike to make any difference until they form the government," the statement said.

"Lim may consider inviting the concerned members to discuss the matter. Such a meeting may start with a more informal structure, a multiparty parliamentary caucus before a select committee is officially put on the government agenda."

With this, the ball has been kicked back into the legislators' half once again. What will they do with it then?