Worst Ever Press Freedom Ranking: The Making of a Failed Nation

Malaysia failed terribly to capitalise on last year's momentum where it moved up one notch from 132 to 131. Recently 2010 World Press Freedom Index shows our nation sunk 10 rankings to 141. In fact, this is the lowest ranking in nine years that putting it firmly in the bottom quarter of 178 countries. Read here for further information: 2010 World Press Freedom Index- Lowest press freedom ranking in nine years

The poor performance of Malaysia is absolute evidence that federal government is not really opens for critics and face the upcoming challenges. A report from Malaysiakini stated that the issues which have perhaps affected Malaysia's poor ranking include the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission's investigation into Malaysiakini's cow-head video, the arrests of bloggers and the ban on a number of books by cartoonist Zunar.

The 2010 Press Freedom Index also stated that Singapore (136) outranked Malaysia for the first time since Paris-based press watchdog group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) began releasing its ranking in 2002. Meanwhile, Finland, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland share the No 1 spot. The United States remains at No 20, sitting at the bottom end of the ranking are North Korea (177) and Eritrea (178). Apart from North Korea, Asia's three communist regimes - China (171), Vietnam (165) and Laos (168) - are among the 15 lowest-ranked countries.

This is the result of reality over the past half century. Our independence online portals and opposition publications like Malaysiakini, Malaysia Insider, Malaysia Today, DAP's Rocket, Pas's Harakah and Keadilan's publication become more popular among Malaysians due to the bias approach by BN-controlled mainstream print and broadcast media, like Star, NST, Utusan, Chinese and Tamil papers, TVs and radio stations. This is why Independence portals and opposition publication frequently face pressure from the government.

Some would have compared Malaysia with Singapore and Brunei, but how things going on in their nation? They have a firm economy to rely on, quality education for their generations, solid performance in combating corruption and look at their marvellous security which guaranty a safe place for their citizen. Do the same thing happen is our nation? We are getting worst in every aspect, plunging terribly in Universities ranking, Press Freedom Index, corruptions, security, budget deficit, judiciary, sports and many more.

MALAYSIA IN DIFFICULT SITUATION

STATISTICS FROM REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS (RSF)

Ban PKR for Zulkifli Nordin, Ban UMNO for Ahmad Ismail, Ban HINDRAF for what?????

ZULKIFLI NORDIN

Zulkifli Nordin, a PKR MP for Bandar Baru Kulim had been involved in an earlier debacle when he led a protest against the Bar Council forum on “Conversion to Islam” in August, where he was accused of barging into the forum and making an inciteful speech. Yesterday, he accused the Bar Council of supporting apostasy in parliament. I would like to ask a question to all Malaysian. If Muslim compromise with non-Muslims, is it clash with Islamic principles? Can we work together as Malaysian despite religion and believes?

I think it shouldn't be a matter after such a long we have experienced and live together in multi-religion society. Everyone is respecting Islam in Malaysia, so far I haven't heard any cases that non-muslim has insulted Islam as our nation's official religion. It is a common agreement that Islam is the official religion as stated in the Federal Constitution. There is no doubt about this, and of course no one can question it.

AHMAD ISMAIL ARGUING WITH REPORTERS

Ahmad Ismail is known for controversial actions and remarks made in the fields of politics, business and sports, including the latest controversy in which he utters incendiary remarks about the Chinese community during and after the Permatang Pauh by-election in August 2008. Despite criticism of his remark in the by-election and expressing regret that it resulted in controversy, Ahmad remained defiant and refused to apologise om his "Chinese as squatters" remark. In a further outburst during a press conference on September 8, Ahmad seditiously warned the Chinese community not to seek political power, below is Ahmad statement:

"The patience of the Malays and Muslims has a limit. Do not push us to the wall, as when we turn back we will be forced to push the Chinese in the interests of our own survival [...] The Chinese should not try to be like the Jews in America. It is not enough they control the economy, now they want political control."

Recently, HINDRAF was banned by home Minister, Home Minister Datuk Syed Hamid Albar. I don't know what is the actual reason on why HINDRAF banned. Is it because they have visited the Hari Raya open house? For struggling Malaysian Indians betterment? Banned for promoting Hindu or Indians rights? Why this kind of discrimination against Malaysian Indian?

We able to do nothing since the home minister already decide, but please address the Malaysian Indians problem. Banning HINDRAF won't solve the 51 years marginalization of Malaysian Indian. We left behind in every sector including education, economy, and others. We only owned around 1.5% of equity whereas our population more than 5 %. Our Tamil school's condition equals to old kampung houses. Our temples still receiving dangers from government. 50 000 thousand of Malaysian Indian without proper birth certificate and Identity card. I can list out hundreds of problem that we are facing today.

We deserve to get all the helps from government as other races in Malaysia. We are not third class citizen. Give us equal rights!

Fall Again?

SOUTHEAST ASIAN RSF RANKING 2008

Malaysia fell to its worst ranking ever - dropping by 8 spots to 132 - in the latest worldwide press freedom index by Paris-based watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) which released recently. The index immediately drew criticism from Malaysian groups, which called on the government to free the press and bloggers.

Last year, Malaysia was placed 124nd. Its ranking puts it almost in the bottom quarter of all the countries surveyed.RSF cited the repeated violations of the free flow of press and the bullies on bloggers as its reason for giving a low rating to countries like Malaysia It explained that the violations included arrests of bloggers and closure or difficulty in accessing news websites in our country. The increase in cases of online censorship is because the government has realized that the Internet can play a key role in the fight for democracy and they are establishing newmethods of censoring it. The government of repressive countries is now targeting bloggers and online journalists as forcefully as journalists in the traditional media.

The fall should be accepted as a wake-up call for the nation and the government. With the nation 51th anniversary of independence, shows how low the country has sunk after half a century in the press freedom. The harassment of web activists and cyber-dissidents - from Raja Petra Kamarudin (malaysiaToday), Sheih (Kickdefella), Namewee (Negaraku rap version video) are reasons why Malaysia performed poorly in the ranking.

The usage of Internal Security Act (ISA) against bloggers and journalists worsen the Malaysia ranking more or less. Suspension of Tamil daily Makkal Osai, ban of the word ‘Allah’ in the The Herald weekly and also ban of several columnists among the factors to the massive drop.

The new ranking of Malaysia worst than most of the African nation and South East Asia nation in press freedom index that released yesterday. Our placing in the RSF press freedom index this year is worse than Timor-Leste (65), Indonesia (111), Thailand (124), and Cambodia (126). One consolation, though, is that we are slightly better than Singapore. For more details, view the chart that I have uploaded in this post.

''More freedom of information will lead to a stronger, transparent press, a more vibrant democracy and a more competitive economy!''-TAN SRI RAMON NAVARATNAM

You May Stop HINDRAF, But Not Our Struggle!

25 NOVEMBER 2007 (HINDRAF MASS RALLY)

Why????? Why there is no room for democracy in Malaysia? We struggled for our rights; we are not terrorists as you have classified us so far. We, Malaysian Indian have fundamental rights too to defend our temples, schools, cultures, language and so on. Rather than banning HINDRAF, our problems should be addressed and proper action must be taken. Banning is not the only solution; you can ban our HINDRAF, but not our struggle to Malaysian Indian betterment. The fires of 25 Nov 2007 still burning with flames in every Malaysian Indians heart. Even our beloved Prime Minister will cry if he sit with us sincerely listen to our problem.

STOP SUCH INTIMIDATION ON MALAYSIAN INDIAN

It is about the wish to be treated equally and to be given a fair share of opportunities in the civil, business and education sectors as well as the need to respect our places of worship in terms of indiscriminate demolitions. We did not ask for Prime Minister Post, we did not even touch “Malays special rights”, but we demand for our rights. Why you can’t fulfill this simple demand? Is that we are making baseless demand that until you need to suffer the lost of your 2/3 parliamentary majority and five states in the general election? You may have won comfortably if you deal with our problems professionally and efficiently.

Yes, we were brought to Malaysia by colonial British as normal estate labours, but we have contributed and currently still contributing to Malaysia in every sector until today. From rubber estates, oil palm estates to the construction works we shed our tear and blood. We have a great numbers of Malaysian Indian that making Malaysia to proud of them- communication tycoon Anandakrishnan, former “Asia Sprint King” Dr M Jegathesan, Air Asia owner Tony Fernandes, Mount Everest climber Mahendran, and Mohandas, 1998 Commonwealth gold medalist S.Saravanan and I have a long list here. They are “Anak Bangsa Malaysia”; the patriotism in between their heart inspired them to create history for beloved Malaysia definitely.

We contributed in every sector including economy, sports and education along with other races in Malaysia. Why we are not recognised as a rightful citizen? Aren’t we Malay, Chinese, and Indian are under umbrella of Malaysia flag? Is it too hard to treat us equally? There are a lot of organisations which race based and struggling for their race betterments. We as well have HINDRAF to hope on; you banned HINDRAF without dealing our problems. You detained our our heroes in ISA. If you are the true leaders you should brave to meet our heroes face to face and lay out the problems decently with integrity.

The raise of HINDRAF is because of the failure of MIC to care for Malaysian Indian. We need a safe place for our children, grand children, great grand children….. Again, I would like state that you may stop HINDRAF, but not our struggle! We will struggle to the end till our demand fulfilled!

Revoke Utusan Permit

Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Waythamoorthy has written to premier Abdullah to complain that Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia has been “inciting hatred” against Indian Malaysians. He also stated that the police report lodged against the daily from the Malaysian Indian all over the nation.

Most are very spectacle about this since UMNO; the leader of the ruling Barisan Nasional government owns this company. The newspaper had been giving distorted news about the Prime Minister's and Muslim Cabinet members Hari Raya Open House at Putra World Trade Centre, where the HINDRAF supporters had appeared and handed Prime Minister with a card and teddy bear. The paper had quoted that this group had been unruly and noisy, making it to seem that they are trouble causes. The group had totally disagreed with this reporting.

What seem to appear is that Utusan Malaysia another UMNO putra company feels it is above the law and could say and do anything and they are confident that no action will be taken against them. PM should stop them and at least a show cause letter must be issued on Utusan Malaysia. We Malaysian definitely would not like to witness the riot which started from federal government itself in future; we need a government that realy giving emphasis about racial unity among its citizen and take care of all Malaysian without fear and favour.

It’s the right time for the Home Ministry to take immediate action since various other non-UMNO papers has been punished previously for much smaller offences. Recently, there are a number of quarters demanding that the Home Ministry to take firm action against the Utusan Malaysia for creating racial sentiments among the Malaysian society by suspending or revoking their printing permit as previously they did on several papers.