Malaysia's worst-ever ranking in press freedom - dropping 32 spots to 124th place - has renewed calls by campaingers for a review of the country's slew of restrictive media laws.
In my August posting, Freedom of the press is the key to our democracy , i have quoted the following ;
“Our liberty depends on freedom of the press and that cannot be limited without being lost.” -Thomas Jefferson
“Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.” -Walter Cronkite
Malaysia's press freedom ranking revealed that the Prime minister does not want to hear the truth contrary to what he always preaches. Malaysia's worst-ever ranking in press freedom has proven that Pak Lah does not live up to his own words. It also shows us that we are from free in our own country 44 years after the formation of Malaysia, in fact our democracy is under threat.
How could the media being the 4th power when it can't even report freely especially with the Official Secrets Act 1972 and the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 in force. How could the press report without fear and favour under the BN's authoritative rule.
The awareness among the rakyat about the importance of a free press is still very low and most youth would pay more attention to the sports and entertainments news rather than the social and political news. Although the internet should make it more difficult to stop the flow of informations, but that is still not an effective way of disseminating information and news as there is sinply a lack of interest among youth regarding social-political issues. The Election Commission revealed that there are more than 4 millions unregistered voters tells a thousand tales. Democracy requires free-thinking youth combines with a free press to thrive and we are still short of these essential items at this moment.
David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity sec
18-10-2007
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