First sign of repression?
This was the question posed by opposition leader Lim Kit Siang after the banning of popular Tamil daily Makkal Osai today.
He asked if the daily was denied the renewal of its KDN due to prominence in its coverage for the Pakatan Rakyat.
“Is this the first sign of repression and crackdown on human rights and the little space opening up in the printed media after the March 8 political tsunami?” he asked in a statement today.
Insiders say there are many reasons for that - but chiefly it was for being anti-establishment.
Apparently the ministry was upset that daily gave wide coverage to Anwar (including the Black 14 rally and the police probe that followed) and Makkal Sakthi issues.
The publication of Uthayakumar’s photographs from the Taiping hospital is also said to have riled the ministry.
And finally it seems there was a business competitor who had fed information about Makkal Osai’s misdeeds to the ministry.
I am sure the cabinet had discussed this matter this morning. Is this how the PM is going to regain the trust and support of the Indian community?
As it is I think the one-month suspension of Makkal Osai last August for publishing an offending photo of Jesus caused some resentment towards the government - perhaps it was even the start of such a feeling against the BN.
The government must be smart enough to just renew the KDN and let the daily do its business.
Labels: abdullah ahmad badawi, malaysia, media, politics
posted by Kabilan K at 7:33 PM
1 Comments:
Dear Freedom Fighters, both Online & Offline...
I have been supporting the boycott the newspapers initiative for sometime & I have done my push & pull marketing rather we'll around my circle of family, friends & contacts. A few have stopped buying, some don't already. A lot whom still want to purchase the papers, I passed on the info - which was the worst in all mediums & urged them to switch to the least worst. For English papers, the worst was the The Star (Spinning & BN coverage). Data can be found on the People's Parliament.
Now, the story. I have noticed that some, are still purchasing the newspapers, especially "The Star" every now & then, especially on Saturdays for... "The Recruitment Section!"
So, I urge all those whom support this cause to pass the word. Only get your recruitment information online. Do not purchase the msm & even browse through it.
PR & others (mid-long term effort), get more beginner computer classes up. Teaching people to use the comp, get the news, browse & apply for jobs, using the email, etc. Keep the fees very low, give it free to the very poor, catch the young, educate! PR, set up a IT centre in the poor areas, with news printed out & pasted there regularly. Put up a few PCs with internet connections for the poor to share & use for free during office hours.
Check out MT article "My Version of the Truth" by RPK, for some related info.
Thanks, please pass the word!
Post a Comment
<< Home