PERMATANG PAUH Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s response to the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project, which asks all 222 MPs six questions. (source: parlimen.gov.my)Name: Anwar IbrahimConstituency: Permatang PauhParty: PKR (Opposition) Years as MP: 1982-1999 (Permatang Pauh, under Umno) 26 Aug 2008-present (Permatang Pauh, under PKR) Government post: None Party position: […]
freedom of information
Are online insults criminal?
By Koh Lay ChinTHERE is an etiquette to online chatter. We don’t write in ALL CAPS LIKE THIS, because that would mean we are shouting. We use emoticons when expression may be difficult to gauge. We think and check before we pass something around. But apart from “netiquette”, what kind of online behaviour would get you in trouble […]
Regaining our Malaysian voice
By Ding Jo-Ann(Pic by Yamamoto Ortiz / sxc.hu) MY New Year wish for all Malaysians is that we will regain our voice. We face an uncertain 2010. But if we are to become politically stable and economically secure, it is now, more than ever, that we need to be able to be openly critical of outdated policies […]
Civil servants and the art of silence
By Deborah LohINCREDULOUS. That’s how a journalist feels when a senior civil servant responds to a request for information with a flat refusal to answer. Following the commentary on the need for a Freedom of Information Act, it is timely to relate another story about failed attempts to get answers on matters of public interest from the […]
Hiding behind “secrets”
By Gan Pei LingShhhhh… (© Paul Brunskill / sxc.hu) “YOU cannot quote me…I’ve discussed with my superior, we’ve decided that the progress is slow, so we don’t think it’s a good time to publicise it now, why don’t you write on other issues?” That was the response from an officer from the Ministry of Women, Family and Community […]
Barring the media
By Zedeck Siew“If we are truly to build a democracy that is responsive to the needs of all the people, we need a media – both old and new – that is empowered to responsibly report what they see, without fear of consequence, and to hold governments and public officials accountable for the results they achieve or […]
Better access to information
By Shanon ShahPETALING JAYA, 22 Jan 2009: The March 2008 general elections have increased prospects for greater freedom of information, with Pakatan Rakyat governments taking the lead. Cover for the annual review by CIJ“The Selangor and Penang state governments have made public announcements to introduce freedom of information (FOI) laws in their states within the year,” Centre […]
CIJ submits memo on press freedom to Pakatan MPs
By Elizabeth Looi(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) […]
