KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 ― The public uproar against a minister's aide's complaint to state broadcaster RTM indicates changed sentiments on the media’s role in “New Malaysia”, veteran newsman Datuk A. Kadir Jasin said today.
The special adviser on media to the prime minister said in the days of the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration, it was considered a norm for a minister's press secretary to give instructions to media outfits on their editorial direction.
“Previously a press secretary giving instructions was normal. I think that's an indication of the new Malaysia.
“It is no longer acceptable [to do so],” he said in a dialogue session during the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s (Suhakam) meet-the-press session here.
He also echoed Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo’s statement today that a minister’s press secretary is more than welcome to request “live” coverage, since RTM falls under Putrajaya’s purview.
“Even so, what he did received strong objection. Not just from the media, but from within the government,” said Kadir.
Kadir, who used to be the group editor-in-chief of New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd, also claimed that there has been no more instructions from the top echelons of government to the media, called “wahyu” or “divine directions” within the industry, since Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over.
“After PH came to power, there was no more ‘wahyu’. So the journalists did not know what to do,” he joked.
He added that Putrajaya’s so-called “direction” to the press is now: “Whatever it is you want to do with your paper.”
Gobind had earlier said RTM was not in breach of its standard operating procedures when it omitted “live” coverage of Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s speech and that of the Negri Sembilan mentri besar during a recent Chinese New Year event.
The communications and multimedia minister clarified that the state-owned broadcaster is only required to air “live” the speech of the prime minister, which it did — following a sabotage claim by Loke’s press secretary Lim Swee Kuan.
Lim had suggested that this could possibly be “sabotage” by the state-owned broadcaster against the federal government, before demanding an explanation from RTM and promising to immediately lodge an official complaint with Gobind.
