(second from right) Gayathry explaining CIJ’s memorandum to Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s vice-president Azmin Ali.
Looking on are (from left) Santiago, Sivarasa and (right) Khalid.
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 Nov 2008: The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has submitted a memorandum to demand for greater press freedom and protection of media workers to Members of Parliament (MPs) from Pakatan Rakyat.
In the memorandum, the CIJ called for the setting up of a parliamentary select committee to review media laws, the abolition of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) and the enactment of Freedom of Information law.
The memorandum also demands protection for media workers, especially journalists and photographers, besides objecting of the proposed media council.
CIJ executive director V Gayathry said: “We want to reject any form of violence on journalists and media workers”.
“We hope the MPs will take our demands seriously, and we will also forward the memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Department, Opposition Leader and all the Menteri Besar and Chief Ministers,” she said before handing over the memorandum to the MPs.
The representatives from Pakatan Rakyat were Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang), R Sivarasa (Parti Keadilan Rakyat-Subang) and Khalid Abdul Samad (PAS-Shah Alam).
Gayathry also said the CIJ had collected 3,059 signatures in the past six months to support the memorandum. 
