Speaking at Suaram’s presentation of its report card for PH’s first 100 days in government at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Suaram project coordinator Dobby Chew said under the new administration, there was more press freedom and no blacklisting of media outlets.
He said it was also easier for stakeholders to access Parliament without needing to be accompanied by an MP, as was the case under the previous government.
However, he added that there were bigger issues which needed to be addressed, saying PH had made many commitments in its manifesto with no clear action plan on how they would be implemented.
“Take the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA) for example. PH said it would reform this, but what is the timeline? Will we see it done in six months or one year?
“And detention of juveniles – what is our stance on that? If they are 17 and under detention now, the next four years are critical if we want to prepare them to re-enter society. So far, the home ministry hasn’t spoken about this.”
In the first month, he said, ministers could say that they needed time as they were taking over from the previous administration. Within three months, though, they should have a plan of action for the future, he added.
Chew said although reforms took time, the government could put in place moratoriums on certain repressive laws or human rights violations such as the Sedition Act 1948 and the death penalty.
“The next execution, the next sedition arrest is not on Barisan Nasional, but on PH. Tell us why a moratorium can’t be done. If it can, do it.”
Media expert V Gayathry meanwhile lauded the government for acting on repealing the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 and for giving its commitment to formulating a Freedom of Information Act.
The University of Nottingham lecturer said this was a good step, noting that ministers also seemed to be more open.
“But this openness isn’t guaranteed, so unless we see actual changes, particularly the repeal of the CMA, Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984 and the Sedition Act, we can’t have a free press.”
Bersih 2.0 acting chairman Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari said civil society groups must hold the moral high ground and continue to criticise the government.
“Our top priority is the change of guard in the Election Commission (EC). New commissioners are needed to ensure more holistic and meaningful reforms.
“The EC has been very friendly to us after May 9. Now we are called for meetings, to become observers and so on when in the past it was difficult to even enter their office or meet commissioners. But who is going to take accountability for past electoral issues?”
He said the government also needed to push for the removal of the sitting election commissioners, who should resign to pave the way for reforms since only the king could remove them.