PUTRAJAYA – It is the Information Department director who decides if staff of political party mouthpieces qualify for media accreditation cards, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said.
He added that while it was not “policy” to grant these outfits media accreditation, it was up to the Information Department, which is led by Datuk Mohd Sukari Abdul Hamid.
“Not necessarily (that party organs can obtain media accreditation cards). It is possible, but it is subject to the Information Department director’s decisions.x
“However, policy-wise, no,” Fahmi, who is also the government’s spokesman, said during a press conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting today.
Media accreditation cards issued by the Information Department are used as identification for journalists operating in the country, and are usually required when covering government-related events.
Last November, PAS mouthpiece Harakah had its media accreditation cards revoked after the publication posted an image of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s photo in front of an Israel flag.
It also published an article questioning the unity government’s stance on Palestine. The daily’s portal, Harakahdaily, later removed the image, and Fahmi said the party publication may file appeals against the revocation.
The issue of media accreditation cards has resurfaced following the re-launch of the Malaysian Code of Ethics for Journalists yesterday. Fahmi said the code will be used as a basis for the Information Department to issue the cards.
Some critics of the code are contending that to bind journalists’ access to government events through the accreditation card is restrictive and against press freedom.
The code was met with criticism from organisations such as Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) and media advocacy group Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm).
Fahmi, however, has said the code will not stifle media freedom and is instead to address current journalistic needs and technological advancements.
Fahmi today said the updated code of ethics is the same as the initial version published in 1989, but with changes to remove outdated topics, such as the mention of “communism”.
To a question if the code, which was released by the Information Department, will see overlaps if the proposed Malaysian Media Council also develops its own, Fahmi said the former will only use the code launched yesterday as a guideline for issuing media accreditation cards.
“If the media council wants to use a new code of ethics, Japen’s use for the code would only be to give and revoke media accreditation cards, which is not done by the council,” he said.
Fahmi today also said a bill to establish the Malaysian Media Council Bill will be tabled in Parliament in June.
The bill, to create a media council to “self-govern” the press and resolve public complaints against the media, needs more fine-tuning and consultation with stakeholders, he added. – February 21, 2024
