NUJ is concerned over Home Ministry's show-cause letters

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) is concerned over the Home Ministry’s show-cause letters to The Sun, Sin Chew Daily and Suara Keadilan for alleged manipulation and highlighting of sensitive issues.

NUJ president Norila Mohd Daud described the worrying trend as being tantamount to further restriction to press freedom, thus hindering journalists from reporting the truth without fear.

”The union feels the current political temperature was rising because of irresponsible politicians making comments on sensitive issues without thinking what the implications of their remarks would have on the public,” she said in a statement Friday.

Norila said the Government had taken the Printing, Presses and Publications Act as means to issue a show-cause letter to the respective newspapers over the transpired events, while the media merely reported the facts and was not a party to any issue.

”Subsequently, if these (news)papers were to be closed down or suspended, the livelihood of hundreds of journalists and non-journalists who are not involved with the issues will also be affected,” she added.

She said the NUJ hoped the Government would keep to its promise of a freer media and not resort to suspending or closing down newpapers. - Bernama