When silence means ‘no consent’
Malaysiakini.com
Nov 20, 2006
Wong Yeen Fern

After a year, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has yet to get a response out of the Internal Security Ministry over the status of its application to publish Suara Keadilan, the party organ.

Information chief Tian Chua said the ministry claims to be considering the application, but that the party sees this as an excuse not to give approval.

“We are disappointed with the ministry’s tactics, which contradict the prime minister’s pledge of transparency,” he told a press conference at the party office in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

He said opposition political parties should be able to permits to publish information and opinions so that the public can have access to alternative information.

“If we don’t have this channel, we can’t voice our opinions and debate issues,” he noted.

Tian further said the government does not practise the true concept of democracy, but that it undermines the concept instead.

PKR will summit a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) on Friday to highlight the absence of press freedom.

Despite not having a publication licence, the party has publishing Suara Keadilan on an irregular basis over the past few years.

Below the party organ's masthead, it said that the party has applied for a licence since May 2005, but "the prime minister has failed to live up to his promises".

Sign of rejection?

Human Rights Society of Malaysia (Hakam) president Malik Imtiaz Sarwar spoke in support of PKR’s application at the press conference, pointing out that the ministry’s delay could be read as a sign of rejection.

Malik, who is a prominent lawyer, also said this could be deemed a refusal in law due to lack of accountability.

“In the political arena, true choices can only be made if there is a proper basis for choice where the public is able to access to any information including alternative information, such as from opposition parties,” he said.

It is essential for the public to be exposed by all sorts of information with regard to political parties because voters would want to make objective and fair choices in determining the government, he said.

“If the public don’t know who the candidates (from opposition parties) are, how are they supposed to cast their votes fairly? The candidates will appear to be anonymous to them,” he said.

Malik urged the government to provide space not only for PKR, but also for other opposition parties, so that their voices can be heard and there can be discussion between the parties and the public.

Human rights group Suaram, community-based organisation Komas and the Centre for Independent Journalism also expressed solidarity in urging the government to free the press.

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