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The time is now to free Malaysian media – Sukhbir Cheema

February 29, 2016

It is now more evident than ever that Malaysian journalists are treated like dirt following the recent blockade imposed on The Malaysian Insider and with the sudden closure of The Rakyat Post today.

The Rakyat Post shut down with immediate effect leaving some 50 or so of its staff not being paid a single cent since January, just shows the level of disrespect many have towards journalism and fellow journalists – a force that should be reckoned with for being the fourth estate.

It is as though the duties of a person who reports the news is not taken seriously and it has been proven time and time again in the past two years when The Heat was closed down in December 2013, the staff of The Edge and The Malaysian Insider were detained by the police in March last year and with the latter facing a clampdown on its website last week.

And yet the public remains largely silent and doubtful.

Meanwhile, those working for the mainstream media – who are funded by the government itself – are often treated as criminals when covering opposition events with their lawmakers often ridiculing them for being government lapdogs.

A fact, though is true, the blame should never go to them but to the very government which chooses to regulate information which is disseminated to the people by funding these organisations.

Heck, even the people on the ground scorn and mock the journalists who work for organisations such as Utusan and The New Straits Times with many often than not casting a snide remark about their links with the corrupt regime.

I know this because I faced such remarks myself when I was a journalist with The New Straits Times.

Those who slog for the independent and alternative media on the other hand are often barred from covering government related events fearing that their diligent staff would spin the stories.

Some even receive verbal threats from government lawmakers themselves.

Journalists have bills to pay and families to feed too. And this is true, because my wife is a staff with The Malaysian Insider and with the looming uncertainty clouding the arrival of our newborn, the recent times have indeed been very challenging.

And yet many are oblivious to these facts.

The thing is, regardless which side a media practitioner is working for, the entire system is flawed and corrupt from top to bottom simply because Malaysian journalists have limited freedom on what they should report, write and express.

Many good stories are rubbished and thrown into the bin simply because majority paint the government in bad light.

Many journalists then resort in doing the only thing they can, which is churn out stories, spinning news report to cover the bottoms of the ministers who constantly utter some of the absurd statements.

And many more fall ill, become demotivated, unable to function properly any more, rendering them no longer enthusiastic in becoming journalists.

And sadly, a plethora of them quit.

Some, are treated like discarded tissue papers. My fellow former colleagues from The Rakyat Post are set to lodge a formal complain at the Labour Department in Kuala Lumpur at 1pm tomorrow for the atrocities committed by the owners of the now defunct news portal.

They had been unpaid since January and with the recent closure, it is unclear if they will be obtaining their salaries for their services this month too.

Malaysians, the time has come for each one of you from all walks of life to call for freedom for the media.

Even journalists, regardless if you guys are from the mainstream or the independent media, should start voicing your thoughts and opinions on this urgent matter courageously.

And make your voices heard.

If the functionality of a journalist is jeopardised, the people will never read, share and let alone learn about the truth on the state of affairs in our nation.

Calling for the freedom for the media is a symbolic way by Malaysians in showing respect to the fourth estate to which they owe much. It should be treated as a duty and not a criminal act by the authorities and the people themselves.

Stifling freedom of speech and controlling information is an archaic method which no longer functions in a progressive society such as ours.

If there is anything the authorities should do is be transparent, accountable, responsible and start walking the talk if they are to be allowed to remain in power by the people.

And for journalists who sacrifice their financial comfort over their principles for this just cause, the people will always be eternally grateful.

Free the Malaysian media! – February 29, 2016.

* Sukhbir Cheema reads The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.