KUALA LUMPUR: The newly-launched Malaysian Code of Ethics for Journalists has been accused as a clear attempt by the government to control and censor the media and freedom of speech, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) said.
Its director Zaid Malek claimed that the so-called improved code of ethics is simply a backdoor way of reviving the Anti-Fake News law, couched in terms of “journalistic ethics”, where the credibility of any news and its sources will be determined by the government.
He added that it is “surprising and inappropriate” for the government to launch a supposedly improved code of ethics for journalism before the Media Council has been formally instituted.
The matter, said Zaid, was akin to putting the cart before the horse.
“It thus raises an alarm when (Communications Minister) Fahmi (Fadzil) also confirmed that the Information Department is authorised to rely on the code of ethics to cancel media accreditation cards.
“This cannot be perceived as anything else but as a standing and continuous threat towards the press. It is obvious then that the government is using the code of ethics to further strengthen its control over the media.