Media statement by Teresa Kok Suh Sim in Shah Alam on Tuesday, 3^rd May 2011:

Utusan Malaysia's decision to sack Hata Wahari Keputusan Utusan Malaysia demonstrates again how UMNO stifles freedom of the press and deny the rakyat's right to access independent and ethical news-reporting

I regret the decision made by Utusan Malaysia to sack senior reporter and President of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Hata Wahari. Hata was sacked as he had the courage in which to criticise Utusan Malaysia for intentionally inciting racial dissent through its publications and being biased towards UMNO in their political reporting.

The action taken by Utusan Malaysia was long expected and not suprising to many parties because it's clear that Utusan's journalism is not based upon fact and honesty but is more concerned with protecting UMNO's political interests.

On 1 March 2011, the editor-in-chief of Utusan Malaysia Datuk Aziz Ishak himself admitted that the role of Utusan Malaysia is to support UMNO and Barisan Nasional. (Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/utusans-role-is-to-back-umno-says-editor/ )

In practical terms, what this really means is that the role of Utusan Malaysia is to plant feelings of suspicion, inferiority complex and hatred among the Malays towards the other races so as to build and strengthen the support of the Malays towards UMNO. To protect the political interests of UMNO, Utusan Malaysia has sacrificed the right of the people to receive accurate information based on facts and ethical reporting and compromising the intellectual development of the people.

Therefore, the issue of Hata Wahari's sacking is not a mere squabble between a journalist and his employed. His sacking must be viewed seriously by all Malaysians because it demonstrates how stifled and controlled is freedom of the press in Malaysia, and how it can be attributed to the media monopoly by UMNO and other BN component parties.

I wish to express my appreciation and respect for saudara Hata who has the courage in which to criticise Utusan Malaysia and uphold the principles of professional journalism. Hata's action of going against the management of Utusan Malaysia and UMNO could not have been a simple decision as it meant he would be made to give up his position as a senior journalist in Utusan Malaysia.

Hata has chosen not to remain silent to protect his livelihood with Utusan Malaysia but instead chose to voice out his criticism of irresponsible news reporting by Utusan Malaysia. This shows his courage, his principles and his professional approach to journalism. The case of his sacking has become an important case in the history and media studies of journalism in Malaysia.

I urge all editors and reporters in Utusan Malaysia to review their objective of entering the journalism profession. It¡¯s time they fulfilled their responsibility as reporters with integrity, and not follow instructions from political players blindly. They must recognise that they hold the heavy responsibility or providing true and worthwhile news reporting, while sowing positive values among Malaysians.

Since Malaysia has dropped in ranking from 131 in 2009 to 141 in 2010 in the Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, and the international community¡¯s perception of freedom of the press in Malaysia is very negative, I urge all reporters in Utusan Malaysia and in mainstream media to make Hata as their journalism role model.

It's time the reporters in Malaysia join in the struggle to restore freedom and accountability of the press in our country, while raising the standard of professional journalism in Malaysia.

* Teresa Kok Suh Sim, DAP National Organizing Secretary, Selangor State Senior EXCO & MP for Seputeh