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Disappointed with Mahathir over his remark on opponents of the Broga incinerators   Media Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw (Petaling Jaya, Thursday): The House (Parliament) deferred Hotels (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) Bill for 24 hours in accordance with the Standing Order, giving Members of Parliament (MPs) at least one day to read through it.  At 11.00 AM on 16 June, 2003, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tengku Azlan presented the Hotels Bill in the House. This was against the Standing Order because the bill was only given to MPs one hour before. MPs asked questions for the first one hour of the day of sitting, from 10.00 AM to 11.00 AM.  I quoted Article 48 of the Standing Order stop the Deputy Minister from speaking. Article 48 says that a Minister may after at least one day’s notice present a Bill without an order of the House for its introduction….  Meanwhile, the Clerk of Parliament Datuk Mohd Salleh insisted that the Bill was presented during the March session this year. Dr Tan said that the Bill was only mentioned for the First Reading then. The Speaker Tun Mhod Zahir adjourned the House for 10 minutes and confirmed that the Bill was only given to MPs an hour before the presentation. He put off the presentation of the Bill for 24 hours, consistent with the Standing Order.  The House proceeded to debate the Entertainment Bill that was given to MPs in the last parliamentary session.  News Blackout  Only one or two Chinese newspapers such as Sin Chew Jit Poh reported the incident, the rest of the media did not even mention it. It was a technical error on the presentation of an issue that did not excite the public except those who are affected like hoteliers in Kuala Lumpur. The media avoid even this type of incident, let alone policy matters. Most comments on Government policy issues do not see the light of day.  Ten minutes before the Deputy Minister stood up, MP for Kota Melaka Kerk Kim Hock raised the alleged gangsterism in MCA. The Deputy Home Minister Datuk Zainal Abidin replied that MCA leaders were not involved in gansterism. This became the news headline in many media the next day. But then, the Deputy Youth And Sports Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat, who first raised the issue, reiterated that the police was still investigating the matter.  Independence or freedom of the media is an important bastion of parliamentary democracy. The public want a less biased reportage. Hence, the news blackout by the Government, whether covertly or overtly, is against the wishes of the people. (19/6/2003) * Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong