#SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant How COVID-19 and the change in government this year impacted the Malaysian media landscape 1 This year has been tough for the media industry in Malaysia. Reporters got let go, newspapers folded, journalists were probed and some media outlets are even facing legal action. Let's show some solidarity! Take part in the #SiapaJagaMedia & #MediaWeWant campaign today, jointly organised by CIJ, Gerakan Media Malaysia (GERAMM), Article 19 Malaysia, the Foreign Correspondents Club of Malaysia (FCCM) and the Institute of Journalists Malaysia (IOJ). Use the two hashtags and share these posters on your social media networks from 12pm to 5pm today! The media industry in Malaysia, like most work sectors, suffered greatly when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, and a partial lockdown was imposed in the country in early 2020 and for most of the year. Since then, there have been: an increasing number of reports of newspapers and other publications closing down or reducing the number of times it prints in a week; a large number of journalists and media personnel reported as facing retrenchment or in the process of being let go, and; reported cases of sexual harassment in the workplace, issues surrounding contract staffing, and instances of online gender-based violence. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 2 The change of government in March 2020 also contributed to the “new normal” for journalists and media outlets in Malaysia. A number of reporters were called in by the police for questioning over reports they authored, while some media outlets were threatened with legal action over content produced and published on their portals. What exactly happened, and what can we as members of the public do in response? Here is a breakdown and some suggestions. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 3 #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant This is what happened to the Malaysian media industry in the last one year 4 1.Utusan shut down On 9 October 2019, Utusan Malaysia, one of Malaysia’s oldest Malay-language newspapers, closed its doors and turned the lights off for Kosmo!, Mingguan Malaysia, and Kosmo! Ahad, after years of financial difficulties. 200 former staff of Utusan have since hauled their ex-employer to court over alleged unpaid termination benefits. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 5 2. Media Prima axed staff On 16 December 2019, media conglomerate Media Prima Berhad confirmed news of a “manpower rationalisation” exercise, affecting staff from the New Straits Times (NST), Berita Harian (BH) and Harian Metro. 543 staff affected are from NST. In June 2020, news of a second retrenchment affecting some 300 Media Prima staff members this year was reported by the media. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 6 3. The Edge stopped printing On 21 April 2020, The Edge Financial Daily printed its last issue, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to digital news as why it is unable to survive. The Edge weekly newspaper is still being published. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 7 4. Oriental Daily now cheaper On 29 April 2020, Chinese- language daily Oriental Daily announced it would only be printing on weekdays from 1 May 2020 onwards (instead of daily), and reducing its newsstand price from RM1.20 to RM0.60 per copy. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 8 5. BluInc closed shop On 30 April 2020, publisher BluInc Media Sdn Bhd, well known for its local and international lifestyle titles including CLEO, Her World, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Jelita, Glam and The Peak, ceased operations due to challenges arising from the digital disruption, and exarcebated further by COVID-19. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 9 6. No more Sin Chew at night On 30 April 2020, Sin Chew Daily, a leading vernacular newspaper for the Chinese community, printed its last night edition copy due to "various challenges”. The newspaper will carry on publishing online via its ePaper. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 10 7. China Press halted printing On 30 April 2020, it was reported that China Press had temporarily halted the print version of its evening edition during the movement control order (MCO) period, with things to return to normal once the MCO is lifted. The electronic version of the evening edition of the paper is still available online. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 11 8. AskLegal almost closed Towards the end of June 2020, AskLegal, a law-based website written for the Malaysian layman, launched a crowdfunding campaign as a last resort to stay afloat after the MCO affected its business. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 12 #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant This is what has been happening in the Malaysian media industry this year 13 1.Malaysiakini in court On 15 June 2020, the attorney- general (AG) filed an ex-parte application to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Malaysiakini and its Editor-In- Chief, Steven Gan, over comments by its readers on an article relating to the judiciary. Bukit Aman has initiated a separate investigation on the same matter, under the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) and the Penal Code. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 14 2. "Rebirth" book banned Towards the end of June 2020, the police initiated an investigation into a book called, "Rebirth: Reform, Resistance And Hope In New Malaysia", for allegedly insulting the national coat of arms on its cover. The book features articles from political analysts, journalists and GE14 reports. Investigations were opened under various laws, including Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, Section 233 of the CMA and Section 8(1) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act (PPPA). Authorities raided the offices of the publishing company, Gerakbudaya, on 30 June 2020, and subsequently banned the book on 1 July 2020. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 15 3. Al Jazeera film probed On 10 July 2020, federal police questioned several Al Jazeera journalists involved in the production of a documentary called, “Locked Up In Malaysia's Lockdown”, that alleged ill- treatment of migrant workers during the MCO this year. The journalists are being probed under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the CMA. Al Jazeera's office was raided by the police, and so were ASTRO and UnifiTV's, for featuring the film. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 16 4. SCMP journo questioned On 3 May 2020, Tashny Sukumaran, a South China Morning Post (SCMP) News Correspondent, tweeted that she had been summoned to Bukit Aman for questioning over an article she wrote on the May Day raids in Kuala Lumpur. She was probed under Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the CMA. The police have since classified her case as No Further Action. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 17 5. DJ Patrick Teoh charged On 9 May 2020, Patrick, a former radio deejay and television personality, was detained and subsequently investigated for allegedly insulting Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim on Facebook. Teoh’s arrest came after he was alleged to have posted an obscene sentence when sharing a video depicting Tunku Ismail firing automatic firearms as part of his Johor Military Force training exercises. An investigation was opened under Section 233(1)(a) of the CMA. On 15 June, Patrick was charged at the Johor Bahru Sessions Court. He pleaded not guilty to his charge. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 18 6. Health journo summoned On 26 June 2020, Boo Su-Lyn, the Editor-In-Chief of health news site CodeBlue, was called in by the police over four articles she wrote on the findings of an independent inquiry committee formed to investigate the 2016 fire at Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor. It was initially reported that Su-Lyn was being probed under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). However, the police have since said that the probe is under Section 203A of the Penal Code, not the OSA. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 19 What do we need to know moving forward? Media freedom and freedom of expression must always be upheld by the government, as enshrined in our Federal Constitution and other international human rights standards. The government cannot censor or criminalise the critical role of the media as it goes against the State's duty to promote informed debates and informed decision-making – especially in times like this, and with a new government in power. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 20 The media industry must rethink and re-envision a new business model to ensure the sustainability of media outlets affected by the current trend of revenue deficit. More alternative sources of news will be forced to close down if nothing changes, and this will result in further cutbacks and retrenchment of media staff, and impact media freedom. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 21 We urge the government to: Prioritise and address the issue of unemployed media personnel and those whose jobs are also at threat due to the pandemic and related economic crisis, through economic recovery packages. Provide certain short-term financial assistance, such as tax incentives, short-term loans or government advertising, as an interim, short-term measure aimed at ensuring media sustainability during this crisis. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 22 Move towards the enactment of a right to information law, repeal repressive laws like the PPPA and the OSA, and amend Section 233 of the CMA so that these laws are not utilised arbitrarily to stifle all manner of speech, and putting into action the pledge by the new government to promote media freedom. Always act in a way that is legal, necessary and proportionate to the alleged harm when addressing allegations against the media and taking steps which have the potential to restrict media freedom. #SiapaJagaMedia #MediaWeWant 23 Work with the media in ensuring fair and equal access to all media outlets and platforms to all timely information related to the crisis. Establish the Malaysian Media Council so there exists a transparent and self- regulatory body that would provide an avenue for the arbitration of public complaints.