[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Bersempena International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists pada 2 November 2024 The Centre For Independent Journalism (CIJ), Kesatuan Kebangsaan Wartawan Malaysia (NUJM) dan Gerakan Media Merdeka Malaysia (GERAMM) ingin menegaskan bahawa jenayah, pengabaian, dan keganasan dalam semua bentuk terhadap wartawan perlu dihentikan. Kami berdiri bersama wartawan di seluruh dunia yang terkesan oleh isu ini dan menyeru semua pihak untuk bersatu demi memelihara kebebasan media dengan melindungi wartawan sebagai agen demokrasi.
Berdasarkan penurunan Malaysia dalam Indeks Kebebasan Akhbar Dunia 2024 oleh Reporters WIthout Borders, adalah kritikal untuk mengakui keperluan mendesak untuk menangani kemerosotan kebebasan media di Malaysia. Jelas bahawa, walaupun pada tahun 2024, tapisan berlebihan dan kewujudan undang-undang yang menindas terusmenjadi ancaman kepada kebebasan media dan hak wartawan untuk kebebasan bersuara seperti yang termaktub dalam Perkara 10 Perlembagaan Persekutuan.
Satu kebimbangan yang semakin meningkat yang mengancam landskap media Malaysia baru-baru ini adalah keganasan ekonomi dalam bentuk gaji rendah, keadaan kerja yang tidak selamat, dan ketidak jaminan pekerjaan. Pelbagai isu baru-baru ini telah memburukkan lagi kelestarian ekonomi wartawan dalam landskap media Malaysia. Antaranya termasuk penstrukturan semula dan pemberhentian pekerja di beberapa portal utama dalam talian seperti Free Malaysia Today, Malay Mail, dan The Scoop. Kami juga menyaksikan The Vibes, The Malaysian Insight dan GETARAN gagal membayar gaji sekumpulan wartawan dalam organisasi mereka. Sebagai agen demokrasi yang menyokong media, keadaan ekonomi wartawan yang tidak mampan merupakan suatu perkara yang tidak boleh diterima. Bagi melaksanakan peranan mereka dengan berkesan, mereka perlu diberikan imbuhan yang adil serta keadaan kerja yang layak dan selamat.
Tambahan pula, kekurangan kebertanggungjawaban terhadap tindakan yang dikenakan kepada wartawan sepanjang kerjaya mereka telah lama tidak ditangani di Malaysia. Pada bulan Ogos, tiga wartawan Malaysiakini dipanggil untuk siasatan di bawah Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia berhubung sumber maklumat bagi artikel mengenai dakwaan rombakan pegawai atasan polis. Ini adalah satu penghinaan terhadap prinsip perlindungan sumber yang diiktiraf di peringkat antarabangsa, yang membolehkan wartawan melaksanakan peranan mereka untuk memaklumkan orang awam dengan berkesan, sekali gus menjejaskan keupayaan mereka menjalankan tugas dan hak rakyat untuk mendapatkan maklumat.
Kekurangan kehendak politik untuk memulakan pembaharuan undang-undang yang konstruktif juga terus memupuk budaya ketakutan apabila undang-undang seperti Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan 1984, Akta Hasutan 1949, Akta Rahsia Rasmi, dan Seksyen 233 Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia terus menggalakkan penapisan sendiri kerana bimbang terhadap tindakan undang-undang dan kerenah birokrasi.
Mengiktiraf kepentingan media dan mengekalkankedudukanmereka dalam masyarakat kita mestilah dipegang pada tahap tertinggi dalam semua institusi di Malaysia.
Kami mendesak agar Majlis Media Malaysia (MMC) sebagai badan kawal selia sendiri yang bebas dan melibatkan pelbagai pihak industri ditubuhkan tanpa berlengah lagi, serta diberikan mandat kuasa untuk melindungi wartawan – secara undang-undang, fizikal, ekonomi, dan sosial – serta integriti landskap media kita.
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Oleh itu, bersempena dengan IDEI, CIJ, GERAMM, Kedutaan Belanda, dan Pasukan Negara Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (UNCT) menganjurkan Festival Solidariti Media pada 16 November 2024 untuk memberi pencerahan terhadap isu-isu ini. Semua acara, termasuk persembahan langsung, bazar, podcast langsung, sesi pembicara, dan pameran akan menampilkan sepenuhnya wartawan dan bekas wartawan bagi menyokong perniagaan mereka serta mengetengahkan cabaran ekonomi dan kesukaran yang dihadapi wartawan dalam menjalankan tugas mereka.
IDEI dan Festival Solidariti Media adalah panggilan mendesak kepada pembuat dasar dan ketua syarikat media: pengabaian hak pekerja wartawan, gangguan terhadap agen demokrasi yang menjalankan tugas mereka, dan ancaman terhadap landskap media kita tidak boleh dibiarkan berterusan.
English
Stop all forms of violence and fear against journalists
The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia (NUJM) and Gerakan Media Merdeka Malaysia (GERAMM) commemorate the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (IDEI) on 2 November 2024 by stressing that the crimes, neglect and violence in all forms committed against journalists cannot continue. To end impunity against journalists means we must stop this exemption from punishment from the consequences of these injurious actions against journalists. We stand in solidarity with the journalists across the world affected by these issues and urge everyone to unite to preserve media freedom by protecting these journalists as agents of democracy.
In light of Malaysia’s recent drop in Reporters Without Borders’ 2024 World Press Freedom Index, it is critical to recognise the pressing need to address the declining state of media freedom in Malaysia. It is clear, even in 2024, that excessive censorship and the continued existence of oppressive laws also consistently pose a threat to media freedom and journalists’ right to freedom of expression as enshrined within Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.
A growing concern that threatens Malaysia’s media landscape recently has been economic violence in the form of low wages, unsafe working conditions, and job insecurity. Recently, multiple issues have exacerbated the economic sustainability of journalists in Malaysia’s media landscape. Namely, these include restructuring and layoffs in several major online portals including Free Malaysia Today, Malay Mail and the Scoop. We have also seen The Vibes, The Malaysian Insight and GETARAN failing to pay the wages of a group of journalists in their organisation. As agents of democracy that prop up the media, the fourth estate of democracy, the untenable economic condition of journalists is unacceptable. To carry out their role effectively as such, they must be provided with fair remuneration and decent and safe working conditions.
Further, the lack of accountability for the actions taken against journalists throughout their careers has long gone unaddressed in Malaysia. In August, three Malaysiakini journalists were called in for investigation under the Communications and Multimedia Act regarding their sources on an article about an alleged reshuffle of top police officers. This is an affront to the internationally recognised principle of source protection which allows journalists to carry out their role of informing the public with effectiveness, thus jeopardising both their ability to do their job and the people’s right to accessible information.
Lack of political will to initiate constructive law reform also continue to foster a culture of fear as laws like the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984, the Sedition Act 1949, Official Secrets Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act continue to promote self-censorship due to fear of legal repercussions and institutional red tape.
Recognising the importance of the media and preserving their place in our society must be held to the utmost highest order within all institutions in Malaysia.
We urge that the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) as an independent, multistakeholder self-regulatory body for the industry be established, without further delay, and be given the mandate to have the powers to protect journalists – legally, physically, economically, and socially – and the integrity of our media landscape.
Therefore, in conjunction with IDEI, CIJ, GERAMM, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) are hosting a Media Solidarity Festival on 16 November 2024 to shed light on these issues. All events, including the live performances, bazaar, live podcast, speakers’ session, and exhibition will fully feature journalists and former journalists in order to support their businesses as well as highlight their economic struggles and the plights of journalists on the job.
IDEI and the Media Solidarity Festival are an urgent call to policymakers and heads of media companies: this neglect of journalists’ labour rights, the harassment of agents of democracy carrying out their duty and the threat to our media landscape shall no longer continue.
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
