The fourth estate: The media is an important democratic pillar, which carries the voice of the people. — 123rf
THE VISIT to Yarmouk Camp in Damascus, besieged by the Syrian civil war in 2014, was a harrowing experience for journalist Hariz Mohd. At the time, Hariz was a 30-year-old reporter accompanying Malaysia Aman Palestin, a humanitarian mission providing aid to the camp’s 35,000 residents – both Syrians and Palestinians.
Amid the bullet-riddled walls, crumbling buildings, and dire lack of basic necessities, the grim reality of life in Yarmouk was evident. Designated as a “safe area,” Yarmouk was anything but.
“There were snipers, and the area was often surrounded by hostile forces. Gunshots and explosions were part of the daily soundtrack,” Hariz recalls.
He shared these reflections during an event commemorating the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (IDEI), organised last month by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Gerakan Media Merdeka (GERAMM), United Nations and the Netherlands Embassy.
Hariz notes that while it is common for journalists to be sent to conflict zones or disaster-stricken areas, they often face life-threatening dangers in the line of duty.
“Journalists should never be victimised while carrying out their work, no matter where they are.”
Clarity vital
However, as the IDEI event highlighted, the safety of journalists is not just a concern in war zones. Even in peaceful Malaysia, journalists face various risks.
Beyond donning life jackets to cover monsoon floods and other natural disasters, they are vulnerable to restrictive laws such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), the Sedition Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA).
More than a week ago, 50 journalists and media activists marched from the Tugu Negara to the Parliament building to voice concerns over a potential tightening of restrictions on media freedom.
Reports have suggested proposed amendments to the PPPA may include reintroducing mandatory three-year media license renewals and extending regulatory oversight to digital content. Additionally, a contentious amendment to the CMA was passed last week, introducing stricter penalties including higher fines and longer jail sentences. Alongside this, the Online Safety Bill was enacted, aiming to regulate harmful content on the internet and bolster digital safety measures.
While the government’s intentions may be noble, Star Media Group Chief Content Officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng emphasises the need for clarity on how these changes might affect the industry, particularly established players.
“I totally understand the need to curb misinformation or cyberbullying, but we want to know how these amendments will affect established media like us.
“How will these laws impact law-abiding, accredited and experienced media organisations? We need to know this,” says Ng.
Ng points out the daily challenge of balancing the media’s role as the people’s voice while adhering to laws.
Balancing challenges
Ng further points out the daily challenge of balancing the media’s role as the people’s voice while adhering to laws.
“Our audience today is smarter and more sophisticated. We aim at reflecting this in our duty as we carry the voice of the people.”
Veteran journalist Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai echoes these concerns, stating that the media industry is already grappling with survival issues as owners struggle for revenue and audience.
“Additional layers of regulations will further impinge on our existence. The fear of established players is that we end up as the losers,” he says.
Wong says it is reassuring that the authorities are engaging with stakeholders.
Ng highlights another pressing challenge: competition with unregulated influencers.
“We are talking about survival here. On the PPPA itself, we are already governed by outdated, archaic laws that need to be updated.”
Correspondingly, she empathises with the challenges facing journalists who are members of National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM), especially concerning harassments and welfare.
“The union’s challenges are real.”
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Sinar Harian Group Editor-in-Chief Zamri Rambli notes unease among industry players regarding the proposed amendments to the PPPA. At the same time, he says journalists are closely monitoring the amendment of Section 233 of the Communications Act, which has been passed in Parliament.
“While we welcome harsher punishments for crime and pornography offenders, we hope it does not threaten journalists’ freedom in critical news reporting,” Zamri says.
A fine line
Sin Chew Daily Editor-in-Chief Datuk Kuik Cheng Kang says the threat to media safety is not limited to restrictive laws, especially since journalists in Malaysia continue to face significant challenges when reporting on various sensitive and high-risk topics.
“The potential threats and pressures include defamation laws, verbal abuse from involved parties, and legal actions.
“While existing laws permit free reporting and professional media organisations provide support and advocacy, journalists and media outlets inevitably face public pressure during contentious situations.
“This is particularly evident in the form of aggressive comments and attacks stemming from online bullying.”
Such incidents are not a recent phenomenon; they have persisted in the past and will likely continue into the future.
“These incidents have undoubtedly dealt a severe blow to journalists’ morale, forcing many reporters and editors to resort to self-censorship or alter their reporting approaches to mitigate risks. This, in turn, poses significant challenges for the media in upholding press freedom,” says Kuik.
Kuik reminds journalists to exercise their duty responsibly.
Conversely, he reminds journalists while no one can expect the government to grant absolute press freedom as seen throughout the history of varied tolerance and limits across different administrations, the power of the pen must be exercised judiciously.
“We must always remember that press freedom comes with responsibility. This is not about self-censorship but about ensuring that the media takes a stand on critical issues – holding those in power accountable and caring for those in need, especially vulnerable groups.
“Governments will continually reassess their tolerance for press freedom based on circumstances, so it is unrealistic to believe in the existence of absolute press freedom.”
Protection and progress
When it comes to journalists’ safety, the responsibility begins with stakeholders, including media companies, editorial organisations, NGOs and the government.
Zamri stresses the importance of training and legal awareness for journalists covering risky stories.
Zamri notes unease among industry players regarding the proposed amendments to the PPPA.
For instance, Sinar Harian protects its investigative reporters by omitting their names and photos from high-risk stories.
Ultimately, protective working policies and non-restrictive laws are key to ensuring media safety.
“The government must ensure Malaysian journalists can work in a safe, independent environment without being excessively intimidated by laws,” Zamri says, adding that Malaysia’s ecosystem of organisations, such as the NUJM, GERAMM and CIJ, also plays a vital support role.
Progress appears to be on the horizon; on Thursday, the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Bill, which outlines the council’s role in propelling the media industry toward self-regulation, was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat.
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Zamri sees the MMC as an adaptation inspired by media frameworks in other countries, particularly Indonesia.
“Despite numerous challenges, the MMC’s tabling marks a significant milestone. Efforts to establish the council have been ongoing for nearly 50 years,” he says.
Ng adds that a self-regulated media council is long overdue.
“Our nation can only claim to have a mature society if its media is governed by its peers, not the government,” she says.
Despite the challenges, Ng and Wong agree it is reassuring that the authorities are engaging with stakeholders.
“I am glad the authorities are willing to listen to stakeholders when it comes to the media industry,” Ng says.
Zamri concurs, adding that such engagement strengthens the media’s role and enhances journalists’ safety.
“This kind of collaboration is crucial and should be expanded.”
