Freedom of Expression and the M Edia in M Alaysia
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FREED O M O F EXPRESSIO N A N D TH E M ED IA IN M A LAYSIA part of a series of baseline studies on seven Southeast Asian countries © A RTICLE 19, London and SU A RA M , Kuala Lum pur ISBN 1 902598 78 4 D ecem ber 2005 ARTICLE 19, 6-8 Am w ell Street, London EC1R 1U Q , Tel: +44 20 7278 9292 , Fax: +44 20 7278 7660 , info@ article19.org , w w w .article19.org Suara Rakyat M alaysia (SU ARAM ), 383, 1st Floor, Jalan 5/59, Petaling G ardens, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, M alaysia , Tel: +603 7784 3525 , Fax: +603 7784 3526 , Em ail: suaram @ suaram .net Acknow ledgem ents This report is a product of cooperation between ARTICLE 19 and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram). Sonia Randhawa, Pauline Puah and Susan Loone researched and wrote this report. Comments and legal analysis were provided by Toby Mendel (Law Programme Director of ARTICLE 19) and Dini Widiastuti (Asia Programme Officer of ARTICLE 19). Final editing was made by Luitgard Hammerer (Acting Director for the Asia Programme of ARTICLE 19). Copy-editing was by Dini Widiastuti. Proof- reading was done by Joanna Hoare. The cover was designed by Mardiana Tukiran. ARTICLE 19 would like to thank the European Commission for providing funding for this study and six other baseline studies on freedom of expression and the media. These studies are parts of the project “Promoting and Protecting Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Information in the ASEAN Region”. We would also like to thank other donors who have contributed to this project: the Open Society Foundation, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok and UNESCO. "This project is co-financed by the European Initiative for Dem ocracy and H um an Rights, European Com m ission. O pinions in this publication is fully the responsibility of ARTICLE 19 and Internew s, and therefore do not reflect the official view s of the European Com m ission.” “This study w as published w ith support from U N ESCO . The ideas and opinions expressed in this study are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the view s of U N ESCO . The designations em ployed and the presentation of m aterial throughout the publication do not im ply the expression of any opinion w hatsoever on part of U N ESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries.” Freedom of Expression and the M edia in M alaysia Contents 1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................. 5 2. RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................................ 8 3. BACKGROUND.................................................................................. 12 3.1. Government and Administrative System ........................................ 12 3.2. Ethnicity and Language.................................................................. 13 3.3. The New Economic Policy............................................................. 14 3.4. Malaysian Democracy.................................................................... 15 3.5. Political Parties and the General Elections ..................................... 19 4. INTERNATIONAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATIONS ...... 22 4.1. The Importance of Freedom of Expression..................................... 22 4.2. Freedom of Expression and the Media ........................................... 24 4.3. Restrictions on Freedom of Expression .......................................... 25 4.4. Pluralism........................................................................................ 26 4.5. Independence of Media Bodies ...................................................... 27 4.6. Freedom of Expression under the Malaysian Constitution.............. 29 5. MEDIA SITUATION........................................................................... 31 5.1. Print Media .................................................................................... 33 English language newspapers ............................................................ 33 Malay language newspapers .............................................................. 34 Chinese language newspapers............................................................ 34 Print media in Sabah and Sarawak..................................................... 35 Magazines ......................................................................................... 36 Alternative media .............................................................................. 36 Foreign media.................................................................................... 37 5.2. Television and Radio...................................................................... 38 Ownership and diversity .................................................................... 40 5.3. Web-based media........................................................................... 43 6. PRINT MEDIA REGULATIONS........................................................ 45 6.1. The Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA)................ 45 6.2. The Sedition Act 1948 ................................................................... 49 6.3. The Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA)............................................. 54 6.4. The Media Council Bill.................................................................. 56 Professional codes of ethics............................................................... 58 Recommendations ............................................................................. 59 7. BROADCASTING REGULATIONS .................................................. 61 7.1. Current Legislation and Its Implications......................................... 61 7.2. Public Broadcaster ......................................................................... 64 Programming requirements................................................................ 64 Parliamentary monitoring .................................................................. 64 7.3. Self-regulation .............................................................................. 65 7.4. Other Legislation Restricting Freedom of Expression .................... 65 Theatre and music.............................................................................. 65 Ceramahs and public gatherings ........................................................ 66 Recommendations ............................................................................. 67 8. DEFAMATION LAW.......................................................................... 68 8.1. Key Features of Defamation Act 1957 ........................................... 68 The definition of defamation ............................................................. 68 The premium placed on reputation .................................................... 69 Defences............................................................................................ 70 8.2. “Mega-suits” Undermining Freedom of Expression ....................... 70 Recommendations ............................................................................. 73 9. CONTENT RESTRICTIONS .............................................................. 73 9.1. Use of the Sedition Act .................................................................. 74 Race .................................................................................................. 75 Religion............................................................................................. 76 The Judiciary..................................................................................... 77 The Monarchy ................................................................................... 78 The special position of Sabah and Sarawak ....................................... 78 The special privileges of the Malays.................................................. 78 The conclusion for the political landscape in Malaysia...................... 79 9.2. Other Legislation Restricting Content ............................................ 79 Recommendations ............................................................................. 81 10. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND SECRECY........................... 82 10.1. The Official Secrets Act............................................................... 82 10.2. Culture of Secrecy........................................................................ 91 Types of information or documents readily accessible....................... 92 Court cases and gag orders ................................................................ 92 Prosecution and persecution of whistleblowers.................................. 93 Positive measures to share information by the government................ 94 10.3. The need for a Freedom of Information Act ................................. 94 Recommendations ............................................................................. 96 11. INFORMAL RESTRICTIONS AND HARASSMENT OF THE MEDIA .................................................................................................... 97 Recommendations ............................................................................. 99 Freedom of Expression and the M edia in M alaysia 1. IN TRO DU CTIO N During the run-up to the Malaysian general elections in March 2004, a private radio station broadcast a news item in which the Deputy Prime Minister called for Malaysians to re-elect the government. Not only was this the top story of the day, it was the only local news story. The radio station did not