Benar-CIJ-WAMI Joint Statement on the occasion of the Walk for Media Freedom
Free Media for a Free Nation
http://benarffm.wordpress.com/free-media-for-a-free-nation/
June 1, 2008
A free nation entails not only democratic elections, but also the public sphere within which the citizens may freely exchange information and ideas, debate, deliberate and form public opinion.
Public opinion not only sways elections, but also constraints the behaviour of governments, preventing the emergence of elected dictatorships.
Media freedom is therefore at the core of a free nation. Attainment of national independence is indivisible from advancement of media freedom. Repressive laws are only required by governments that are afraid of dissent.
In this sense, decolonization must be measured by the civil and political rights the citizens enjoy. The people are often treated like minors who need parental guidance. The decolonization process is only complete when the post-colonial government is able to see the people, and the people are able to see each other, as politically mature, rational and competent. Internal political independence needs democratization, which entails media freedom both as an end and a means. This requires not only laws that advance our freedom, but also a decolonized mentality which is able to see that we deserve freedom and can advance our quality of life with freedom.
The struggle for Malaysia's independence is therefore an unfinished business. England, which had no licensing requirement on newspapers at home, imposed on Malaya various repressive publication laws that led to the Printing Presses Ordinance 1948. Unfortunately, this law survived Malaya's independence in 1957 and Malaysia's establishment in 1963, and evolved into the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
We have also other draconian laws like the Internal Security Act (ISA), the Sedition Act, and the Official Secrets Act. And beneath these laws is our misguided fear of freedom and truth, a fear that had subjected us to control and propaganda.
After 50 years of independence from the British, it is time that we mentally decolonize ourselves and claim our media freedom and, by extension, a full democracy. We must now seek free speech, information access and empowerment.
It is incumbent upon all Malaysians to advance media freedom as a national project and make our celebration of national independence meaningful. The public must show their support to journalists, bloggers, writers and photographers in defending and expanding the public sphere, like they do soldiers who defend the nation's sovereignty. In turn, the journalists, bloggers, writers and photographers must demonstrate a high degree of professionalism and ethics commensurate with the freedom. Finally, the government, both at the federal and state levels, must do their part via laws and policies to advance the public's right to know and their freedom of expression.
On the first Sunday of June, let us walk together as a nation to show our solidarity to the journalist and blogger fraternity, to mark our determination to claim our media freedom which is long overdue and to reflect on our roles in advancing our media freedom, democracy and nationhood. Let us walk the talk, anywhere you like, bearing in mind that hundreds or thousands of citizens are walking with you.
Let us come together as a nation for our freedom.
8 comments:
people, organisation & agency who don't want media freedom, don't deserve to be in the news.
~~~beeranyone
Our media is also free. Freely used by bn to screw around.
Beeranyone,
I hate media freedom; but I want free media...
Hasilox,
Only TheSun is free; the others is still not free.
Why it seems that a lot of countries in this region don't have much freedom of speech? Is this our Asian culture where the young can't speak against the elders, staff can't disagreed with their bosses and the people can't have different opinions about government's policies?
Asia Pacific is not a good place to look for examples to follow. Singapore, Taiwan, S Korea have all developed their economies is dictatorial governance.
You mentioned responsibilities of good journalism, ethics, and media freedom.
The public need much education as well, in that many are gullible in believing all that is in print must hold gems of truth. Which they don't and many times, very much the opposite.
An irresponsible government making pronouncements very distant from the truth is also not helping.
Several of your postings too have jumped ahead of the gun. It up to the readers to judge for themselves to digest the news as they come - in whatever form. A public maturity, i suppose.
But, yes, this new day has to come, and it will.
CK,
This is the process of the evolution from feudalism to democracy and ultimately aristocracy. Thereafter, it will then evolved into anarchyism which then progress towards socialism.
Jefus,
I disagree. What Singapore and Taiwan had done is to place the economic prosperity as the primary objective for the nation to prosper; and in order to focus on the mission there may have to be some policies that could restrict or constrict individual freedom.
But in Malaysia, we have extensive corruption, cronyism and nepotism coupled with positive and direct discrimination as the primary agenda and ultimate prosperity of the oligarchy.
The restrictions and constraints are largely more towards suppression and oppression as a form of control.
thanks for posting this up, mave. hey didn't see you at the walk/talk. howsy was there and get to talk to him.
Lucia,
I cannot attend as I am a Barisan member.
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