Report on the Media Freedom Walk from the media

2 June 2008
Malaysiakini

Walk proceeds, Zaid booed by journos

Journalists and bloggers made a spontaneous decision to march in Dataran Merdeka this morning in support of press freedom MCPX despite a police ban on grounds of security and traffic.

The Walk for Press Freedom, which was originally planned to take place at 9am as a precursor to a dialogue between the press and de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim, took off only after the minister had left the event.

Some 150 people participated in the walk led by one of the key organisers, Writers Alliance for Media Independence (Wami) chairperson Wong Chin Huat (left), covering a distance of about one kilometre from the National Press Club in Jalan Tangsi to the historic Dataran Merdeka.

About a dozen of police officers were present but no action was taken against the marchers.

Report on the Media Freedom Walk from around the blogs

this list will be updated as blogs or websites on the above topic are discovered. if you know of any blogs/websites with the report, which are not included here, kindly inform us. thank you.

wattahack: Media Freedom Walk – Malaysiakini and Malaysia today
Malaysia Today: Sightings Update: Talk the Walk
Melvin Mah: Media Freedom Day – The Walk and the Talk
Euphoria in Misery: Walking on the wild side with Zaid
Howsy: Yes, there was a walk and a talk but was there a ‘walk the talk’?
Rocky: Where were the editors?
Tony Yew: A Sunday walk and some words from a minister
Susan Loone: Zaid hits nails on journo’s coffin
I am Malaysia: BENAR – all in the name of media freedom
Broken Shields and Swords: Sunday updates
Julian Hopkins: The symbolism of blogs
Spanking da monkey: Report on the media freedom walk

Select Committee on Media Law Reform

1st June, 2008

Media Law Reform to Complete Decolonization

Benar, CIJ, WAMI and All-Blogs congratulate the 150 journalists, bloggers and members of the public who walked from Merdeka Square to National Press Club (NPC) and later from the NPC to the square this morning to make a point: the nation’s decolonization is not complete until the media is free.

We call upon the federal government to heed the public’s call for media law reform by setting up a parliamentary select committee for a comprehensive reform involving at least five legislations: the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), Sedition Act, Official Secrets Act (OSA), Internal Security Act (ISA) and Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA).

The select committee is a core demand in a five-month campaign beginning May 3rd and ending September 16, which includes the Walk for Media Freedom this morning. The demand was first made by 37 civil society groups in 2006.

Zaid throws down gauntlet

“Look at yourself first before telling the government what to do“.

No holds were barred in this faceoff between the journalist community and de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

Zaid directly challenged the journalists present, “Do your editors believe in what you are fighting for? Are all the reporters together in this? You have to sort all these things out first, then give us your plan”. (Malaysiakini)

“You must ask yourself first – do you take up an unpopular issue with your newsowner?“, Zaid said. He also absolved other ministers of blame, saying “Don’t assume all ministers are unreasonable.“

Zaid’s unpopular comments were met with boos. But these very remarks were sufficient to stir the journos present into action. They decided to stage an impromptu massed march to the Dataran Merdeka after the NPC event. Gone were the fears about causing a hindrance to traffic. Gone were worries about police action. Gone were anxieties about job loss and all that. The journalists were indeed walking their talk. Hallelujah!

This was exactly the kind of response Benar had sought to stimulate when this civil society initiative was launched.

The legal fraternity needed no one to urge them into staging their Walk for Judicial Reform. The rakyat responded overwhelmingly to Bersih’s call to March in support of the petition to DYMM SPB Yang di Pertuan Agong for Electoral Reform. HINDRAF was so moved by the need to voice its frustration that it strove to rouse the passions of a usually rowdy crowd while keeping them disciplined and constrained, even in the face of unwarranted and overwhelming violence.

And where were the journalists? “Mind your own business,” some said. “Armchair critics,” others protested over Benar’s effort to make the case for Media Freedom.

Everyone knows about making the cow drink. Well, bringing the cow to the water is no easy task either. There is an element of cutting off one’s own nose in any large scale boycott of the media. Far too many people have this need to hold a newspaper in their hands. Reading the papers is a relaxation that many look forward to after a long, hard day at work. Sitting in front of a computer or reading A4 sheets was too much like work to be relaxing.

On top of that that, seeking to bring the media industry to its knees would impact a large number of employees dependent their monthly salaries. When faced with bread and butter issues, matters of principle and conscience usually take second place. It’s the hierarchy of needs. Media Reform could only be effected if the journalists themselves could be stirred into action.

Benar worked on the basis premise that a sufficiently large part of the journalist community would want to do something about the state of affairs in journalism. They only needed a trigger to push them out of their comfort zone. So we decided to engage them rather than confront them. We worked with CIJ and WAMI, who were of like mind. We roped in All-Blogs to support our cause. And we managed to persuade NPC and NUJ that we were non-confrontational. And that is how the Walk for Media Freedom materialised.

While a turnout of 500 would have been magnificent, the NPC clubhouse was already bursting at its seams with the 150 who did turn up. For the next Walk, we shall have to define a larger destination.

It was good that Zaid chose to tell it like he saw it. And it was also good that the journalists were able to boo. After all, isn’t that what freedom of expression is all about? When people are all polite and nice to each other, egos get stroked but little else happens.

After all was said and done, Zaid has promised, “I will stand by the press, the journalist and the media.” The journalists have staged an unlawful protest march. Despite denying permission earlier, the Police stood by and allowed the massed march to proceed without incident. We have made much progress.

The journalists have pushed the envelope a little and discovered that it doesn’t necessarily bite back. They have been challenged and, it appears that they have accepted the challenge. Now words have to be transformed into action.

Benar, CIJ, WAMI and All-Blogs will be seeking to work with all related parties to define the Terms of Reference for the Parliamentary Select Committee on Media Law Reform.

Help us bring this nation forward in the next, and final, stage of decolonization.

Sunday parking : heads-up

We want to share with you a heads-up that we received about parking tomorrow morning.

It being a Sunday, the St Mary’s Church is likely to be having services. This means their car park is likely to be full.

Even if their car park is not full, if our Walkers were to take up the available spaces, we could be inconveniencing the churchgoers.

As such it may be better if our supporters found other places for parking. The Dataran underground appears to be the best bet.

We look forward to a splendid turnout tomorrow.

Why we shall walk on this Sunday

 

Coming together for Media Freedom

The walk for media freedom on this Sunday (June 1) is initiated as an act of solidarity involving journalists, bloggers, writers, photographers and fellow citizens.

Malaysia badly needs reforms to the existing draconian media laws to lift the threat on every journalist, every blogger and every citizen who seeks to be informed and expresses his/her views on matters of public interest. Such calls have been made for years by journalists, bloggers and civil society groups. We believe the voice would be louder if we make the call together.

This is why CIJ, WAMI, Benar and All-Blogs organized the walk from Dataran Merdeka to National Press Club (NPC), to be followed by a dialogue hosted by NPC involving the de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim, the media community including NUJ and the members of the public.

A 3-point memorandum demanding media law reform launched on May 3 by CIJ and WAMI will be read to kick start greater effort in collecting signatures, to be presented to national leaders on August 31 and to state leaders on September 16.

The walk is on

The walk was never intended to be a public rally. To avoid confronting security laws, participants are invited to walk alone or in pair from the flagpost at Merdeka Square to NPC within a period from 9.30 to 10.15 am.

We believe it is our fundamental freedom to take a morning walk. Should anyone need a reminder, other than Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees freedom of peaceful assembly, Article 9 also guarantee explicitly that “ … every citizen has the right to move freely throughout the Federation …”. We cannot see how citizens walking though the Square symbolizing the nation’s independence shall threaten the nation’s security.

We informed the police of our intention to have a morning walk but were unfortunately told that we would need to apply for a permit which would not be granted anyway. The police however did concede that participants of the dialogue may need to walk from somewhere else.

We have chosen neither to apply for police permit nor to call off the walk. We believe it is every citizen’s right to walk through the capital city on a Sunday morning. Taking into account the concerns of individual participants, we have recommended only one change: participants may walk for any distance from any direction.

Take public transport or park your car elsewhere and to walk towards the NPC during the designated time. You may come from any direction. Naturally, if you alight from LRT at Central Market or if you park at Merdeka Square, you will have to walk through the Merdeka Square to NPC.

The meaning of your every step

We call upon the participants of the walk bring a national flag or a copy of Federal Constitution, and to wear a yellow ribbon to symbolize your support for media freedom. If you are a journalist, put on your press card. Whenever you feel a need to assert your constitutional freedom, wave your flag, sing Negaraku, cite Article 9 or 10 of the Federal Constitution, or recite Rukunegara especially the third principle: “Keluhuran Perlembagaan”.

Let it be clear to the authority and the wider public this is not just any walk. It is a walk to reflect on the state of media freedom in Malaysia after 50 years of independence and our individual roles to advance that. Let us reflect on what has gone wrong in this country, that the citizens are not allowed to walk freely through their Merdeka Square. Let us ask in our every step: what is national independence without media freedom?

We recognize that this may not be a decision satisfactory to every freedom-loving Malaysian, but we believe it may be the change necessary to bring on board as many individuals and groups as possible. We plead for your support to join the walk even though you may not agree with the arrangement.

Let us come together to claim our media freedom, and by extension, a full democracy which is over due for 51 years. A walk of 50 people may be stopped or invisible. A walk of 500 will not be. Let us all be part of a proud number for a new beginning.

Reminder: BENAR Media Freedom event 01.06.08

The Benar Media Freedom Event is still on tomorrow.

Right from the outset, we have made it clear that there will be no public gathering. The event was not intended as a public demonstration or a show of defiance. As stated previously, arrive on your own, park where it is convenient and walk in ones or twos to the NPC.

To avoid unnecessary difficulties, we wish to remind all participants of the following…

• There are only 25 parking spots near the NPC so you have to find other parking nearby.
• The map provided previously shows the location of the NPC so you should be able to walk to the NPC from wherever you are parked.
• If you plan to park at St Mary’s Church or the Dataran Underground Park, remember, the Dataran main road will be closed but the side roads are still open.
• If you park at the Dataran Underground Park, DO NOT LOITER THERE. Walk immediately to the NPC via the most convenient route.
• If there are any barricades, avoid those and find your way around them. Do not seek confrontation.
• Refreshments will be available from 9:30 am so you can start as early as 9:15 or even 9:00 am.
• Journalists, bloggers and ordinary citizens, do turn out in large numbers and show your solidarity.
• Take some useful exercise this Sunday morning and work with your government to address the issue of Media Freedom.

Remember, you do not require a police permit to walk in ones and twos. Therefore, as you walk to the NPC, avoid gathering in groups.

See you on Sunday 1st June 2008.

ALERT: Change in plans

Please take note that we are NOT GATHERING at Dataran Merdeka to walk to the NPC. This was decided in discussions with the police and the organising committee on 29 May. Participants are kindly advised to head to the National Press Club on Jalan Tangsi (off Jalan Parlimen) for the dialogue which is scheduled to start at 10:30 with the Minister in Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim. Since refreshments have already been ordered for 9:30 am, feel free to come early to partake of them.

For those driving, there are only 25 parking spots around the NPC area. You may want to park across near the Royal Selangor Club, the St. Mary’s church or the underground parking at Dataran Merdeka, but please take note that the Dataran Merdeka road will be closed, so you will have to use the other entrance (U-turn at the roundabout below the Jalan Kinabalu flyover). Those who are commuting might consider taking the Putra-LRT to the Masjid Jamek station and it is a short walk to NPC, or the KTM Komuter to the Bank Negara stop.

See you at NPC on Sunday!

The revised program for the morning is as follows…

09:30 am	Participants arrive, refreshments served
10:35 am	Welcome speech by NPC Chairman, Mokhtar
10:45 am	Speech by NUJ President, Norila Daud
10:55 am	Speech on behalf of Walk Organisers, V Gayathry
11:00 am	Keynote address by Minister in Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim
11:30 am	Dialogue
12:00 noon	Special announcements: Reading of May 3 Memorandum, Joint Resolution by organisers
12:30 pm	Press Conference

The Rakyat are also stakeholders

One of the visitors to this blog asked what business it was of people like Haris Ibrahim and SV Singam to be telling reporters what to do. We believe that is a fair question and expect that many others could have wondered the same thing.

Different people in different positions would have different views about what is the role of the media. Let us take a quick look.

• The owner of a media company would see it as a profit center. He would want the media company to do whatever it is able to do to maximise profits.
• The employee would see it as his income source. His primary concern would be that the company remains able to employ him and pay his salary.
• A government would see it as a tool of nation-building. The expectation would be that the media company should do anything and everything that helps the government pursue its agenda.
• The opposition would also want the media to be the tool of nation-building… exposing the weaknesses in the system that need correcting.
• An activist would want the media to give him a platform from which he can shout out his message.
• The oppressed and the underprivileged would want the media to speak up for their cause.
• The religious activists would want the media to give them space for proselytising while religious bigots would want the media to block out everybody but themselves.

In the midst of all that, we rakyat who are none of the above can ask, what is our expectation? What is our stake? The fact of the matter is that ordinary people do have a stake in anything that will affect their livelihood and their future. That is a fundamental premise of a democratic society. Anything that is in the public interest, the public are entitled to have an interest in.

So where does that place the media? It has been said that freeing the media is the final stage of decolonisation. The oppressive laws that mute the media today are carry-overs from the time of British colonisation of the Malay States. While we have freed ourselves from the shackles of a colonial regime, we are still not free from the mental colonization that has only become worse since Merdeka.

We, as a people, have the right to seek a media free to report the truth without fear or favour. We, as a people have the responsibility to tell the media where they are lacking and need improvement. More than that, we as citizens of a free nation, owe it to our media people to work with them and help bring about the changes they need that will result in a free media.

Benar is not an organisation. Benar is an idea, a cause. Benar is the opportunity for ordinary people who are neither journalists nor bloggers to stake their claim on determining the direction that media freedom will take. This Benar blog belongs to the people. You can determine how to use it to promote the cause of media freedom. Feel free to contribute ideas and write relevant articles. Anyone who wants to have a bigger participative role than just commenting in a blog, simply write in to us and we will include you in our e-group.

So back to the original question, did Benar have the right to organise a Walk for Media Freedom? We feel that the Walk is a necessary first step in the process of taking back the liberties that the media have been deprived of. If the media community could have organised it themselves, the effect would have been tremendous. However, as a result of this being a civil society initiative, something unprecedented is taking place.

For the first time, people from the traditional media, the blogger community, ordinary citizens and a representative of the government are getting together for a common cause – Media Freedom. The path will be long and hard, with many dangers and challenges. But with so many parties ready to acknowledge the need for Media Freedom, it’s only a matter of working together and developing a reasonable plan that will address the concerns of all the stakeholders.

We are taking an important first step. Let us keep walking forward. Pretty soon, even the detractors may be seen walking with us.

Button, Programme & Map (updated)

This is the Button commemorating the Walk for Media Freedom on 1st June 2008. Since we are operating without any sponsorship, we need your help to defray the cost of these buttons as well as other expenses incurred to organize this event. It will therefore be highly appreciated if you will kindly make a small donation for this button.

Due to budget constraints, we have ordered only 500 pieces of this button and they will be made available on a first come first served basis.

The program for the morning is as follows…

9 – 9:45am	Walkers arrive individually at the National Flag at Dataran Merdeka, show their respect, and then proceed immediately to the National Press Club. Please DO NOT gather anywhere at the Dataran. If there are any blockades, simply avoid those and find another route to the NPC. No confrontation and no heroics please.
10:00 am	Welcoming address by the organisers
10:15 am	Keynote address by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim
10:45am	Sharing by participants followed by Q&A
11:30am	Reading of the 1st June Statement
11:40am	Re-reading of the 3rd May Memorandum
11:50am	Launch of the signature campaign endorsing the 3rd May Memorandum
12:00 noon	Participants take the Pledge Resolution on Media Freedom