Guan Eng defends his press freedom record
DAP has dismissed the findings by Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) that there is no guarantee Pakatan Rakyat will free the current media environment should it take over Putrajaya.
The CIJ said in its annual Freedom of Expression report that was released on Wednesday that Pakatan state governments, after being voted into power in 2008, have demonstrated "potential similarities" with the BN in relation to the media.
Rejecting the CIJ finding, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the opposition coalition has walked the talk since it took over Penang four years ago.
"If you look at the performance of Penang, we passed the Freedom of Information Act; we have set up a Speakers Square, and we have openly declared our assets.
"These are all steps towards freedom of information," Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, told journalists after announcing details of the George Town Festival 2012 at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The CIJ says in its Freedom of Expression report for 2011 that there was no guarantee Pakatan will repeal all repressive press laws and unshackle the current media environment once it comes into power.
A motion was passed in the Penang legislative assembly in May 2011 to bar Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia from covering its proceedings after it reported on the renovation cost of Lim's official residence, which was a rented premises.
There was no such renovation, and the newspaper later went on to report about an outlandish plot by the DAP and Christian pastors to make Christianity the country's official religion, which has angered both the party and Christians.
'It's an act of self-defence'
Lim explained that the speaker's decision to bar Utusan from the state assembly was enforced after the daily failed to attend an inquiry called by the state assembly for it to explain these reports.
"Utusan is not a newspaper, but a political party mouthpiece," said Lim, adding that the newspaper refused to give him the right of reply after making all the false accusations about him.
"Can I sue them everyday? Do I have the capacity, ability and financial resources to sue them everyday? I don't.
"Who am I? I'm the chief minister of Penang. And who are they? They are big, they have Umno (behind them), they have money, tens of millions of ringgit to throw. They are not afraid of you, not of me," Lim said.
He said he had no choice but to not allow Utusan to cover his functions, and that this was only for the purpose of self-defence.
"This is an act of self-defence. I have no choice but to say, ‘Please, don't cover me, don't print my news. It is okay with me'... This is because I'm scared of them," Lim added.
The CIJ said in its annual Freedom of Expression report that was released on Wednesday that Pakatan state governments, after being voted into power in 2008, have demonstrated "potential similarities" with the BN in relation to the media.
Rejecting the CIJ finding, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the opposition coalition has walked the talk since it took over Penang four years ago.
"If you look at the performance of Penang, we passed the Freedom of Information Act; we have set up a Speakers Square, and we have openly declared our assets.
"These are all steps towards freedom of information," Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, told journalists after announcing details of the George Town Festival 2012 at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The CIJ says in its Freedom of Expression report for 2011 that there was no guarantee Pakatan will repeal all repressive press laws and unshackle the current media environment once it comes into power.
A motion was passed in the Penang legislative assembly in May 2011 to bar Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia from covering its proceedings after it reported on the renovation cost of Lim's official residence, which was a rented premises.
There was no such renovation, and the newspaper later went on to report about an outlandish plot by the DAP and Christian pastors to make Christianity the country's official religion, which has angered both the party and Christians.
'It's an act of self-defence'
Lim explained that the speaker's decision to bar Utusan from the state assembly was enforced after the daily failed to attend an inquiry called by the state assembly for it to explain these reports.
"Utusan is not a newspaper, but a political party mouthpiece," said Lim, adding that the newspaper refused to give him the right of reply after making all the false accusations about him."Can I sue them everyday? Do I have the capacity, ability and financial resources to sue them everyday? I don't.
"Who am I? I'm the chief minister of Penang. And who are they? They are big, they have Umno (behind them), they have money, tens of millions of ringgit to throw. They are not afraid of you, not of me," Lim said.
He said he had no choice but to not allow Utusan to cover his functions, and that this was only for the purpose of self-defence.
"This is an act of self-defence. I have no choice but to say, ‘Please, don't cover me, don't print my news. It is okay with me'... This is because I'm scared of them," Lim added.
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