On September 7, Minister of Information Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the government would set up a national media council to "to ensure that media reports were made based on true journalistic ethics."

The minister was responding to the controversy arising from Ahmad Ismail, an UMNO division leader in Penang, who had lashed out at the media for quoting him out of context over his alleged racist remark.

CIJ, a SEAPA partner based in Kuala Lumpur, noted that although such proposals have been made in the past, "the government failed to heed the current constraints placed on the media and feedback from civil society and the media industry on the implications of a media council."

CIJ and WAMI said they are concerned that the government's response is to tighten its control on the media when the reportage affects its reputation.

"This shows that the government is unused to a critical media, a more informed public, and more public discussion on fundamental issues as race relations, religion and governance. Every time the media highlight political statements, they are sanctioned for being irresponsible. It is for the political leaders to advise their members to speak maturely yet openly, and to be bold to take criticism and be challenged to a debate. Where the aggrieved parties believe the media have acted irresponsibly, use available recourse such as demanding for a correction or an apology or use civil laws in place for this. The media, on the other hand, is not above ethical standards and must ensure that all reports are done with due rigour, accuracy and fairness," said Gayathry Venkiteswaran, CIJ executive director.

"It is time the government moved away from its conventional top-down control on public discussion and the freedom of the press. The general election and a CIJ poll on the public showed that media that toeing the official line in its reporting have the opposite effect of turning the public away rather than improving their support for the government. These are clarion calls for the government to engage the public with more openness and freedom of information," the statement said.

"We call on the government to start by setting up a parliamentary select committee on the media to discuss at the parliamentary level media freedom issues and media law reform. The select committee should collect public feedback as well as consulting civil society groups for the government's decision in order that it reflects fairly the wishes of the public and stakeholders. The media fraternity should use this opportunity to stand united and oppose any new mechanisms that could enhance the controls already placed on them, and demand for a more thorough and open review of the laws and policies that govern their work," WAMI chairperson Wong Chin Huat said.

"As the saying goes, 'gajah sama gajah lawan, pelanduk mati di tengah-tengah': the media will only be the victim in the midst of the ongoing political tussle if it maintains a status quo," the statement added.

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The Centre for Independent Journalism (http://cijmalaysia.org) is a SEAPA partner based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It aspires for a society that is democratic, just and free, where all people enjoy free media and the freedom to express, seek, and impart information.