KUALA LUMPUR: The upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting next week will only be covered by a small number of media personnel from limited organisations, with no reasons given for the arbitrary move.
This new ruling, which was not in place in the previous sitting, excludes many news organisations including the New Straits Times.
This is the first time in NST's 176-year history that it has denied from entering Parliament grounds for a Dewan Rakyat sitting.
Other media organisations not in the list are Utusan Malaysia, Kosmo, Harian Metro, Malay Mail, Free Malaysia Today, The Vibes, The Malaysian Insight, Malaysian Gazette and The Malaysian Reserve.
In a statement today, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun said only 16 media agencies were allowed to do coverage of the upcoming sitting from inside the parliament ground.
They are RTM, Bernama, Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia, Finas, TV3, Astro Awani, Berita Harian, Sinar Harian, The Star, The Sun, Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau, Malaysia Nanban, AFP, Malaysiakini and Malaysia Now.
At press time, no reasons were given as to why the NST was snubbed, but an insider familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity pointed to the Parliament office.
"The list was finalised by Parliament, not anyone else. Ask Parliament why they did this because we didn't," the source said.
Attempts to reach Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun for clarification on the matter have so far been unsuccessful.