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A date of Yellow Ribbon – Tea with MCA leaders For Press Freedom

Date: 1st December 2006
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: MCA headquarter, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

Yellow ribbon became a sign for the campaign for press freedom in Malaysia since May 28, 2001 when Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) acquired with political pressure Nanyang Press, which owned Nanyang Siang Pao, China Press and more than 10 magazines, from Hong Leong Group. All signs suggested that Nanyang’s archrival Sin Chew group was MCA’s secret collaborator in this scheme. Understanding well how partisan control may kill newspapers, the takeover has caused a storm in the Chinese community.

The storm of yellow ribbons does not end and rather it gathers more energy five years on. On October 18, 2006, Tan Sri Tiong King, the owner of Sin Chew Media Group officially acquired enough share in Nanyang Press from MCA to be its largest shareholder. He now controls all the top four national Chinese dailies: Sin Chew Daily, China Press, Guang Ming Daily and Nanyang Siang Pao, Nanyang Siang Pao, which controlled 87% of Chinese press readership.

Such monopolistic control did not bode well for Malaysia. The Chinese community knows too well in the last five years, how media freedom and professionalism are made the sacrificial lamb in the four newspapers controlled by an effective alliance of MCA-Sin Chew. News and views unfavourable to MCA, Sin Chew or their collaboration are systematically blacked out. Advertisements against the political or economic interest of the alliance and their supporters were rejected.

The community is not the only loser. Nanyang Press has suffered greatly in credibility and circulation. This translated into losses to MCA in hundreds of millions in the past five years. MCA has been nothing but a tool to advance Tan Sri Tiong’s ambition.

As concerned young citizens, many of us to vote for the first time in next election, we are extremely concerned with the threats to our democratic space with more partisan and monopolistic of mass media.

While we were not born or too young to take a stand when UMNO took over Utusan in 1961 and the (New) Straits Times in 1972, when MCA controlled The Star in 1979 and Nanyang Press five years ago, we are now ready to stand up and be counted. As Jose Rizal says, “there can be no tyrants where there are no slaves.” We vow to have no media moguls, whoever their backers or masters are, to rule our heart and mind.

We harbour hope that MCA is a responsible and vibrant party that is capable of reflect and redeem its historical mistakes. It needs not to carry on the historical baggage of the 2001 leadership. It must reconcile with the civil society and voters. We believe the MCA leadership has an inescapable historical responsibility owed to the Rakyat Malaysia on these two outcomes:

1. Parliamentary Select Committee for Media Laws Reform
That MCA ministers and parliamentarians shall lobby the Cabinet to establish a Parliamentary Select Committee to review, reform and repeal all provisions in the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), Internal Security Act, Sedition Act, Official Secret Act, to enact a Freedom of Information Act and introduce anti-monopoly clauses in relevant legislations. Only with printing licenses and publication permits abolished, there can be a free market of idea and opinion, a pre-requisite for any first-world mentality.

2. MCA relinquishing its remaining stakes in Nanyang Press
MCA central committee shall relinquish its remaining stakes in Nanyang Press to demonstrate its new commitment to freedom of expression and of the press. The buyer however must not be Mr Tiong Hiew King, Media Prima or any other dominant player in the industry. A few entrepreneurs, including Mr Ling Chiong Ho of Sarawak and Mr Foo Wan Thot (former chairman of Dong Zong) have expressed their intent to acquire MCA’s stakes. MCA should therefore seize this golden opportunity of exit.

Communications and consultation are paramount in democratic process. MCA leaders have always called for dialogues in disagreements. We would therefore like to have a tea with MCA leadership to discuss the matter at 7pm on 1st December (Friday). For their convenience, we propose the MCA headquarter as the venue.

We have full confidence that the MCA leaders are well-cultured with Chinese hospitality and civility. We therefore expect open door, welcoming hosts and a pleasant evening over tea – Chinese, English or whatever sort. We believe there will be no lorry to block the entrance of the MCA headquarter and no policeman to chase away its guests.

With such confidence, we would like to invite all members of public who share the same concern for press freedom and democracy to come along. We are sure that MCA leaders will have as many as tea cups as the number of guests can be. Do tie or bring a string of yellow ribbon if you can. That will be how our hosts may recognize us.

Convened by,
Lee Khai Loon
Ng Yap Hwa
Heng Hui Yi
Lim Sok Swan
Ng Chong Soon
Lee Huat Seng
Lua Khang Wei

Contact:
kllee78[at]gmail[dot]com
yaphwa[at]gmail[dot]com
tohko_5[at]hotmail[dot]com

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What are Select committees？

http://www.decisionmaker.co.nz/guide2003/hpw/selectcoms.html

After a bill is introduced to Parliament and has been given its first reading, it is referred to a select committee. Select committees are small groups of MPs who can examine bills in detail, and hear public submissions on proposed laws.

Nearly all bills, once referred to a select committee, are advertised in the metropolitan and major provincial newspapers for submissions from interested organisations or individuals. Select committees also call for submissions on other matters referred to them. People may appear before the committee in person to support their written submissions.

Making a submission
Anyone can make a submission to a select committee. A booklet on how to make a submission is available from the Office of the Clerk and on the website. You should send 20 copies of your submission (preferably typed) to the clerk of the committee before the closing date for submissions. Do not assume a late submission will be considered.

You can ask to appear before the committee to make a spoken presentation. The clerk of the committee will let you know if the committee wishes to hear your submission and will tell you where and when you can present it. Sometimes, select committees hold hearings at places outside Wellington. If you travel to the meeting, you will have to pay for your own travel. However, videoconferencing facilities are now available, allowing the public to make submissions and MPs to attend meetings outside of Wellington without the time and expense of travelling.

After the select committee process, the bill is reported back to the whole House, usually with amendments. The bill is then debated in its second reading.

Detailed review
In the next stage of consideration, the House forms itself into a committee of the whole House and considers the bill in detail. This gives all MPs the opportunity to debate each separate provision or clause of the bill, and to vote to change any of it.

Royal assent
Next comes the third reading, during which members may discuss the bill, but only in the form in which it came out of the committee of the whole House. This is their last opportunity to debate the bill before it is voted on and sent to the Governor-General for signing (Royal Assent). Only then does a bill become an Act of Parliament.

Investigations
Select committees are also able to initiate their own investigations. As a result, government officials and other people are often requested to appear before a select committee. Most committee proceedings during the hearing of evidence are open to the public, so potential witnesses can attend before giving evidence themselves.

Making an appearance
If you make a submission to a select committee in person, you will appear as a witness. You may appear in person or by videoconference.You will need to identify yourself and/or your organisation.
If you choose representatives to appear for an organisation, make sure they have the authority, are capable of speaking on behalf of the organisation, and are familiar with the issue. Legal counsel may be used.
The chair usually asks witnesses to make a brief opening statement. In this statement you should summarise the main points of your submission. You may also inform the committee of any relevant new information. Do not read your submission aloud. You will then be questioned by the members of the committee. You may call on other people to answer particular questions. You may be asked to provide additional written information.
Select committee hearings are open to the public and media. If you have private or confidential information to present, you should inform the clerk of the committee so the committee can consider how to handle this