Perak Speaker wants all media to report on 7 May
Yesterday a media notice sent out by the Perak Information Department indicated that only 13 media groups – all of them mainstream media – would be allowed to cover the controversial Perak State Assembly proceedings on 7-13 May.
The 13 mainstream media outfits are RTM, Bernama TV, TV3, The Star, New Straits Times, Berita Harian, Utusan Malaysia, China Press, Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau, Tamil Namban, Tamil Nesan and Bernama. They are expected to provide pro-BN coverage.
The Assembly proceedings on 7 May will be closely followed by Malaysians – given the constitutional crisis in the state and the BN attempt to replace the Speaker, who is from the DAP. Even the seating arrangements in the Assembly could be disputed.
Today, Perak Speaker A Sivakumar said he would meet with the State Secretary to obtain clarification on the media restrictions.
In line with democratic traditions, people have the right to know what’s happening in the Assembly, he said. He is therefore asking all media, including the foreign and internet media, to cover the proceedings on 7 May. This is the closing excerpt of his statement released today on his blog:
