The RM 10,000 fine on business radio station BFM by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) over the station’s interview with Islamic scholar Reza Aslan shows the urgent need for Malaysians to press MCMC to remove the restrictive conditions which go against media freedom.
In the BFM interview last year, Reza criticised Malaysia’s ban on the use of “Allah” by non-Muslims and described the Court of Appeal’s ruling on October 14, 2013, as a “political decision”.
Irrespective of whether one agrees with his views, Malaysians should demand the right and freedom to listen to all views which constitute healthy and vibrant debates.
On September 18, 2011, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib had said that the repeal of the Internal Security Act was part of efforts to make Malaysia the best democracy in the world.
Can there be a “best democracy in the world “if there is such infringement of media freedom by MCMC?
Can there be a vibrant democracy if media cannot have freedom of expression and people are not given the freedom to listen to all views?
The Prime Minister‘s image and credibility has been much affected by his failure to keep his 2011 pledge to repeal the draconian Sedition Act.
MCMC’s imposition of restrictive conditions on broadcasters and fine on BFM has shown that the government is afraid of healthy public debates and is not committed to political reforms which it has pledged to the people.
It is most encouraging to note that support for the ‘ I pledge RM 10 for BFM “ public page started by Masjaliza Hamzah, the former head of Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) , has been growing.
When I made my pledge at 12. 20 pm today, there were 1986 likes on the public page. I call more Malaysians to visit the page and make their pledge to express their solidarity with BFM and to protest against MCMC’s infringement of media freedom.