Imposing restrictions on the media seems to be the flavour of the week. Spot the difference – if any: New media denied passes by Umno Banning NST won’t solve anything Harakah, Suara Keadilan banned 3 months You see, once politicians start restricting the media because they think certain media have been “unfriendly” or “biased” or whatever, there’s no end to it…
The federal government says it has no choice but to approve highway toll hikes because the concession agreements stipulate that compensation would have to be paid to the concessionaires if the hikes are not approved. (We won’t discuss here how they drew up such lopsided agreements in the first place.) So is it fair to retrench foreign workers who have valid employment agreements without paying them adequate compensation? LABOUR-MALAYSIA: Hit Foreign Workers First Govt Tells Employers By Anil Netto PENANG, Mar 23 (IPS) – An official guideline for employers to retrench their foreign workers ahead of local employees has alarmed civil society society groups who fear that indebted migrant workers could be sent home with inadequate compensation. Worries about retrenchment and unemployment have been mounting as Malaysia sinks into a recession, its export-oriented economy taking a hit from a slump in global consumer demand.
2342: Just off the line with Selangor state exco member Xavier Jayakumar. He told me that the speakers on stage in Sungai Petani tonight did not hear any police warnings to disperse. Police fired water cannon and tear gas into the crowd, including women and children, as they moved in. Children coming out of a neaby tuition centre were also doused by the spray from the water cannon; so were patrons in a nearby Chinese restaurant, according to Xavier. Even the usual small itinerant traders selling Pakatan memorabilia were not spared the action. Police could be heard warning of even more aggressive action as they chased the people away. “The police action was aggressive,” observed Xavier.
2254: Nizar thanks the crowd for their prayers and the Pakatan leadership, especially the Pas leadership for entrusting him to stand in the by-election, as he concludes his speech. 2246: Nizar will be the Pakatan candidate for Bukit Gantang. 2238: Hadi is addressing the crowd now and will announce the candidate shortly. 2229: Azmin Ali is speaking to the crowd now.
Najib says he doesn’t expect much of a political honeymoon – never mind the customary 100-day settling-in period for an incoming leader – in terms of the level of scrutiny he is likely to receive if he takes over as PM as planned. But now we see the removal of a high level of media scrutiny for the prime minister-to-be. The three-month suspension of the permits of Harakah and Suara Keadilan allows Najib an 84-day honeymoon (assuming he takes over from 1 April) from scathing criticism from the Pas and PKR party newspapers. It is a serious blow to press freedom in Malaysia. Crucially, the suspensions will also severely handicap Pakatan’s attempts to reach out to the Malay-speaking rural voters in Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang during the by-elections campaigns from 29 March to 6 April.