To speak to the media, the MPs now have to travel to the new media room located a level below the Dewan Rakyat.

To approach the MPs for comment, the media need to do the same.

Kuala Terengganu MP Raja Kamarul Bahrin, speaking at a press conference at Parliament here today, said such an inconvenient arrangement could have been intentional to reduce communication between the media and the opposition.

“At the old building, media personnel were provided with cramped space to do their work, but at least they could approach us every time we left the Dewan.

“Now the space is bigger, but it’s located far from the Dewan. So the media are scattered and it’s hard for us to deliver our message.

“I feel like this is a subtle move by the government to limit opposition MPs’ access to the media and vice versa.”

Because of this, the RM800 million spent on fixing the original Parliament building has been wasted, he added.

“I sympathise with the media who have to chase the leaders up and down, here and upstairs. I urge that the media be given an easier location to work in.”

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said the current location meant that it would take more time for the media to reach the MPs.

“It is absurd to put the media room on the ground floor so far away, and where they have to go through security checks every time they want to speak to us at the Dewan.

“It is inconvenient for the media and the MPs who may want to address them after a debate,” she said.

Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin has called for a dialogue session to be held between MPs and the media.

“In the United States, they have the congressional press corps where journalists and congressmen meet. We need something similar so the media can work better and more efficiently.”