PUTRAJAYA, 24 Dec: Today, a group of members from the NGO, Jingga 13, send a memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) urge for the ministry to withdraw the suspension to the weekly newspaper, The Heat.
The group, led by its Chief Coordinator, Fariz Musa, and several of its members, were seen entering the foyer of the ministry building complex at Block D2, Parcel D, Putrajaya, at 11.30am.
The move to suspend the newspaper by the MOHA is allegedly linked to the article titled ‘All eyes on big spending PM Najib’ on the front page of a recent edition of The Heat.
However, the MOHA, led by its minister, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi, gave the reason that the suspension was on grounds of technicality, where the change of ownership of the newspaper was not informed.
Meanwhile, the Jingga 13 Coordinator of Tasks, Nikson Abdillah, said that the move by the MOHA is undemocratic and unprofessional, and also reflects anti-media freedom which brings about a feeling of uneasiness by the people and media practitioners.
He said, whatever the reason, the MOHA is seen as imposing a drastic punishment on the newspaper for the publishing of the article involving the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
“The publishing and printing press act should not be used as a ‘weapon’ against publishing and media groups to a point that it is viewed by the people and the world as an act that prohibits freedom of expression and is against media freedom,” he said when met outside the MOHA building today.
In the meantime, the memorandum also urged the MOHA to establish an independent committee to investigate the root of police violence incidents against reporters and media practitioners during the Bersih 3.0 assembly last year.
Nikson said that Zahid and the MOHA should publically apologise to all media practitioners for violating the right of media freedom throughout the years BN had administered the country.
Until now, Malaysia is ranked 145 in the media freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders; far behind Bangladesh, Cambodia and Indonesia.
