Tunku Abdul Aziz

Malaysian Digest

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 APRIL, 2010: DAP Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz has called on the government to stop any political interference on local news providers to ensure that there is a freedom of press in the country

Speaking to reporters at Dewan Negara lobby, Abdul Aziz said he would raise a motion during in the afternoon session parliament sitting on the matter to ensure that the right for media to report any event in the country be respected.

“I will raise the matter in the parliament because I believe Parliament should not take this incident lightly, which demonstrates political interference by the government including wife of the Prime Minister, who is a non-executive member of the government.

“Such interference will surely curtail freedom of press and discourage healthy political debates,” he said.

Abdul Aziz said his reaction was in response to the recent incidence, where NTV7 producer for its Editor’s Time programme, Joshua Wong resigned as a result of an alleged pressure from the government. Wong had alleged that the government had pressured him to practice “self-sensorship” on his future programme. Wong was also asked by his management to provide an explanation over the content of the TV programme he directed last week.

Abdul Aziz said it was unfortunate that the government was taking this step to censor a private TV station which had a duty to its viewers to report.

He said the government should not restrict what the TV station wanted to report on or limit the guest speakers they wanted to invite to discuss any political situation.

Editor’s Time is a forum where politicians are given a chance to express their political views openly and encourages rational and critical discussions.