Opposition muzzled - here's black and white proof
Jun 29, 07 7:19pm Malaysiakini

It's an open secret that the government issues directives to state-
owned television and radio stations to black out the opposition. But
it now appears that private stations also receive similar directives.

Malaysiakini has obtained a copy of the letter from the Malaysian
Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) ordering all private
TV and radio stations to stop airing speeches by opposition leaders.
[See original letter]

"The government has noted that several private TV and radio stations
have been airing speeches by opposition party leaders," wrote MCMC
chairman Dr Halim Shafie in the June 7 letter.

"Your station is requested not to broadcast such speeches in future."

The one-page letter added that the directive should be implemented
immediately.

Halim could not be reached for comment.

MCMC, a government agency under the Energy, Water and Communications
Ministry, is empowered to regulate matters relating to communications
and multimedia activities, including private TV and radio stations as
well as Internet websites.

The licencing of private TV and radio stations comes under its purview.

The letter was carbon-copied to Energy, Water and Communications
Ministry's secretary general Dr Halim Man.

No such directive

Yesterday, private station ntv7 denied opposition party claims that
it had received a directive ordering it to censor opposition comments
in news broadcasts.

Opposition member of parliament Tan Kok Wai told a press conference
on Wednesday that he had received information from a reliable source
of a directive to the media to stop airing comments from opposition
parties.

The DAP parliamentarian said the directive tantamount to political
discrimination against opposition parties.

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