Press Freedom in danger

This fella has put Orientaldaily (a Chinese daily) into hot water! His name is Ng Chong Soon, a column writer with Orientaldaily. He is also the assistant secretary of Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth (SCAHY). Lest you forget, he is my comrade cum housemate!

According to the news report in Merdekareview (an online Chinese media), Orientaldaily has received a warning letter from the Ministry of Internal Security (KDN) because of Chong Soon's article on 10 January 2006, titled "How China Press apologised?" . The article compared China Press with The Beijing News (a daily in China), which faced similar punitive action by the Chinese government last year.

3 top editors (including the editor-in-chief) of The Beijing News were axed on 29 December 2005, for their courageous and independent news reporting. Nevertheless, unlike journalists in Malaysia, approximately 100 editors and journalists of The Beijing News initiated a strike to express their dissatisfaction on the sacking of 3 top editors. Eventually, the authority has changed their mind by only sacking the editor-in-chief. Though it was not a total success, but at least they have gained something from their one-day strike.

As told by a veteran journalist, dailies in Malaysia could only afford 3 warning letters from KDN per annum. Otherwise, it will face problems in getting the KDN printing license to be renewed. After only 17 days in 2006, Orientaldaily has already received its first warning letter, how are they going to survive for the rest of the year? Furthermore, the daily is yet to get their 2006 license.

First China Press, now Orientaldaily, are these the symptoms of "Media Doomsday"?


News Report in Malaysiakini (English)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/45893

News Report in Merdekareview
http://www.merdekareview.com/headline_view.asp?id=235

News Report in Malaysiakini (Mandarin)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/45795