Submitted by webmaster on Sat, 2010-10-02 09:21
By OTK’s Info Unit
PANDAN (Oct 1, 2010): Pandan MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat says press freedom is good for developing democracies like in Malaysia.
"Progressive governments will not fear press freedom to allow the people to mature naturally in their thoughts."
"Attempting to stifle or control the media is outdated and counter-productive in the current digital world where access to information is almost borderless."
"In the case of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, promoting press freedom could gain more goodwill from the rakyat and support because it will be seen as a just and fair policy."
"The people have the right to access any information and they would eventually mature to judge the truth."
"The more a government tries to shackle the media, the citizens’ animosity and resistance against the government of the day will grow stronger,” he told OTK’s Info Unit.
Ong was asked for his stand and views on press freedom in Malaysia following Malaysiakini’s suit against the government for rejecting its application for a permit to publish a newspaper.
He said it was clear that the rakyat had matured and was able to digest and differentiate information to form rational views and make informed decisions.
"It is no more just a perception that the rakyat does not trust all the news that is published by the so-called mainstream print media."
"They just don’t trust the print media and are forced to look to the alternative media or online media. Whether they believe or trust the online news or information is another matter."
"The fact remains that the print media is no more as influential as it was on the people. If it was, the BN would not have been struck by the 2008 political tsunami,” he said.
According to an AFP report on Sept 29, Malaysiakini filed a case in the High Court challenging the home ministry's decision to reject its request.
Ong said the government should be seen as fair to all to endear a society that was growing more informed due to the internet.
"We must face reality and adapt to the people’s hunger for freedom and information, and a world that is constantly evolving due to technological progress," he added.
By OTK’s Info Unit
PANDAN (Oct 1, 2010): Pandan MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat says press freedom is good for developing democracies like in Malaysia.
"Progressive governments will not fear press freedom to allow the people to mature naturally in their thoughts."
"Attempting to stifle or control the media is outdated and counter-productive in the current digital world where access to information is almost borderless."
"In the case of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, promoting press freedom could gain more goodwill from the rakyat and support because it will be seen as a just and fair policy."
"The people have the right to access any information and they would eventually mature to judge the truth."
"The more a government tries to shackle the media, the citizens’ animosity and resistance against the government of the day will grow stronger,” he told OTK’s Info Unit.
Ong was asked for his stand and views on press freedom in Malaysia following Malaysiakini’s suit against the government for rejecting its application for a permit to publish a newspaper.
He said it was clear that the rakyat had matured and was able to digest and differentiate information to form rational views and make informed decisions.
"It is no more just a perception that the rakyat does not trust all the news that is published by the so-called mainstream print media."
"They just don’t trust the print media and are forced to look to the alternative media or online media. Whether they believe or trust the online news or information is another matter."
"The fact remains that the print media is no more as influential as it was on the people. If it was, the BN would not have been struck by the 2008 political tsunami,” he said.
According to an AFP report on Sept 29, Malaysiakini filed a case in the High Court challenging the home ministry's decision to reject its request.
Ong said the government should be seen as fair to all to endear a society that was growing more informed due to the internet.
"We must face reality and adapt to the people’s hunger for freedom and information, and a world that is constantly evolving due to technological progress," he added.
Original posting : http://ongteekeat.net
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