By : Eileen Ng
DEWAN RAKYAT, Tues:
The barricades that were abruptly erected this morning to bar reporters from all-round access to the Paliament lobby was removed, just as abruptly, by Barisan Nasional Backbenchers' Club deputy chairman Bung Mokhtar Radin in an apparent defiance against House Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, who made the ruling.
"This barrier was erected without our knowledge so we are also removing it. It is business as usual," Bung Mukhtar declared before removing the red-coloured tape and a sign that warned reporters from entering the lobby other than the prescribed time.
However, some reporters still refused to "cross the line" out of principle. The 100-odd journalists and reporters from various media outfits were shocked this morning when security guards stopped them from entering the lobby where they could meet up with Ministers, Deputy Ministers and MPs – effectively crippling routine coverage.
The restriction was also extended to the MPs’ lounge where reporters get to hold on-the-spot interviews and carry out follow up stories. In retaliation, the 100-odd journalists are boycotting any event or press conferences held at the lobby.
When question time started, Penang chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) spoke about the House’s decision to restrain the media during question time. "The media’s work has been severely restricted as a result of this. The media plays an important role and should be allowed space. This also goes against the concept of first world parliament and it is tantamount to not supporting press freedom," he said as several BN backbenchers heckled him and told him to "stop wasting time".
Deputy Speaker, Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the decision was taken following the chaotic scenes during the last session of parliament in the lobby. "It is a decision by the Speaker and the two deputies. Since you raised it, we will further discuss and announce another decision later," he said.
In the last session, the lounge became a haven for all sorts of demonstrations that upset the Speaker, including one by an NGO representing handicapped people who were upset with Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Ind) for belittling wheelchair-bound Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor). The lobby was the scene of heckling and shouting when a mob of 30 handicapped persons confronted Ibrahim and demanded that he apologise to Karpal.
The lobby was also used by wives of Internal Security Act detainees to hold press conferences to highlight the plight of their husbands and also distribute badges and pamphlets protesting the ISA.
This prompted Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to sound out to MPs that the lobby was not the place for these kinds of demonstrations and warned that he would do something about it.
Pandikar Amin later defended the decision to restrict the number of media personnel covering parliament proceedings to five, citing "security reason" that parliament decided on this measure.
"We have writtten to media organisations indicating our request. If they want more people they should submit a request detailing their reasons," he said.
Pandikar Amin stressed the decision was not final and he was awaiting replies from editors.
"Wait first. Be patient," he said to MPs who repeatedly raised the issue that led to a verbal fisticuff between the Speaker and Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah). Fong had wanted to know what to know what was the Speaker's position on media access to the lobby.
Pandikar Amin said there was no telling who could come in under the pretext of being a media member and called on MPs not to abuse the standing orders to bring up matters outside the chamber.
"Please use the standing orders for what is happening here. You should be using the standing order to talk about proceedings," he said when admonishing Fong.
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