Sunday, April 20, 2008

Let's do away with KDN rules

Congratulations Datuk Seri! The Home Minister has promised more press freedom and one of his first acts was to approve the publishing permit for the Parti Keadilan Rakyat newspaper. He has also suggested that the ministry re-look the annual licensing requirement for newspapers.
It's a good start and certainly we hope Syed Hamid, who is used to facing the media as a foreign minister then, would allow greater democratic space for the media.
Syed Hamid also said the banning of Makkal Osai was not his personal decision but was done after a lengthy observation of the way the newspaper operated.
But the media fratenity hope that the appeal by the Tamil newspaper would be given serious consideration and the KDN restored.
Finally, we also hope that the KDN permit requirement should just end. It is surely one reform that the Prime Minister can do now.

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