The very idea that the press' access to Parliament and parliamentarians will be limited in the upcoming sitting is so outrageous as to be breathtaking.
That the Dewan Rakyat speaker actually made the announcement on Wednesday, and provided a list limiting coverage from inside Parliament to only 16 select media agencies, has struck a new blow at press freedom.
More importantly, to limit the media's access to Parliament strikes a blow against democracy in Malaysia. As it is, Malaysia's ranking in the Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index 2021 has dropped 18 ranks this year. In 2020, Malaysia stood at 101 out of 180 countries.
It now bends, shamefully, at 119. To block the press thus, is therefore, an unconscionable and degenerative move.
This is not an issue only for the press; neither is it only for those that have been left off that list; nor is it limited to this one instance or event.
The press' raison d'etre is to bear witness and in so doing, provide checks and balances to the government.
In this parliamentary sitting, there are at least two highly significant events expected to happen: A vote of confidence in the prime minister at the start of the sitting, and the tabling of the 2022 Budget at the end of it in October. And in between these two events will be the usual business of Parliament, which is to make laws that affect the people, and consider and debate their consequences and implications. In the age of live-streaming, some may think, "Who needs the press when I can follow events for myself?" But, does every person have the time to watch a whole day's debate, and its continuation throughout the week or month?
Does everyone have the wherewithal to provide the background to what is being discussed and put it into context so that the consequence of the vote at the end of a debate has meaning? And in the short time that press conferences are held, will the crucial questions get asked?
In the context of the government, that is what the press is for — to question, to hold government actions up to the light, and to put their statements on record.
At a time when the government can change twice without going to the polls, members of parliament can switch affiliations and move seats; and coalitions can disintegrate, regenerate, or evolve, it is more important than ever, for the sake of transparency and accountability, that the activities of government are open to scrutiny. And this applies to all public government meetings and press conferences.
Allowing some media organisations live access to these events, but disallowing others, is both unfair and unwise. Who chooses which media is the best to do such a job? And by whose criteria is "best" defined? Whichever government is in power must allow full press access to public government activities, regardless of their leanings or age — whether its pedigreed like this newspaper, or a still-establishing year-old new media.
If we want to "(preserve) a democratic way of life", as laid out by the Rukun Negara, unfettered press access to the government is vital. For when those who are supposed to bear witness are blocked from doing their duty, democracy will crumble.