MP moots banning source reporting, minister calls for 'balance'

PARLIAMENT | A fundamental journalistic element - anonymising sources to protect their identities - came under scrutiny in the Dewan Rakyat today, with a lawmaker suggesting a ban.

Shahidan Kassim (Perikatan Nasional-Arau) suggested that the government prohibit the practice and compel reporters to reveal the identities of their sources.

"Why don't we set a condition that the word 'source' can't be mentioned?

"Because sometimes a minister will say something but tell (journalists) 'Don't say it was me, it's a source', even though it's true.

"So will it be ensured that there are no more 'sources' reporting but stating the true (identity)?" he asked in Parliament.

It is not clear what prompted Shahidan's proposal.

However, it comes on the heels of reports citing sources that PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin was a suspect in the MACC's probe on Jana Wibawa.

Responding to Shahidan, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil (above) at first said he agreed with the former's suggestion.

However, he said there should be a balance between true and fake sources.

"We take note that among journalists they have a right to safeguard the identities of their sources, but it must be balanced with the issue of slander," he said.

‘A clear lie’

He cited the example of the free-to-air channel Awesome TV, whom he accused of using source journalism for a slanderous report falsely claiming that the government plans to axe 800,000 civil servants.

"This is a clear lie," he said.

He said that Awesome TV has had six recorded offences to date, and that the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission will be meeting them today to discuss this.

One previous incident involving Awesome TV included a news report - again citing sources - that claimed the government planned to bring in Singapore’s Housing and Development Board (HDB) experts as the current crop of civil servants was incompetent.

Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming refuted the report, and defended the civil service.

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