Zambry forced to reverse media restrictions as Pakatan slams Perak police, state secretary

Anwar speaking at the joint press conference with PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang (left) and DAP’s Lim Kit Siang. - Picture by Choo Choy May

UPDATED

By Debra Chong

IPOH- The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) today accused the police and the Perak state secretary of partisanship ahead of the May 7 state assembly sitting, even as the mentri besar slipped into damage control mode in the fallout from an earlier decision to restrict media coverage.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim noted that the state secretary had “seemingly taken over the duties” of the speaker, including deciding which media organisations were allowed to enter the assembly.

But even as Anwar was speaking here at a joint press conference together with PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang and the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang, Perak mentri besar Datuk Zambry Abd Kadir announced he had rescinded the restrictions in a posting on his blog.

Zambry claimed to have had no hand in the decision to restrict the number of media organisations covering the state assembly, but he suggested it was made because of space constraints.

“In the name of press freedom I have asked the information department to allow all mainstream media representatives to cover (the assembly). This includes the new media, including our blogger friends,” the Perak MB wrote.

Last week, the Perak Information Department issued a circular listing down which media organisations were allowed to send their reporters and cameramen to cover the state assembly sitting, leaving out a number of newspapers and also the online media.

The decision to restrict the number of media organisations has drawn a major outcry and has damaged Zambry’s attempts to win backing for his government.

The DAP’s Lim, speaking at the press conference here, said: “I think it is clear these people have no respect for the media.”

He accused Zambry of having something to hide and “for turning the assembly into a security prison.”

Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, who still maintains he is the mentri besar, was also present at today’s press conference, told reporters he had received a request from the police to attend a special briefing tomorrow.

He noted it was the first time the police had ever organised such a briefing.

Nizar said all PR lawmakers would boycott the briefing. (TMI)

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Arif Shah has potential to get more votes - Chedet

Though not optimistic on Barisan Nasional (BN) winning the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in the upcoming by-election, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad feels BN candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah has a good chance of getting more votes compared to previous candidates.

The former prime minister also believed the BN candidate had the potential in reducing the vote majority of his opponent, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the by-election on Aug 26.

"Datuk Arif Shah may get a better majority this time compared to the poor results obtained by the other candidates," said the former prime minister to reporters after opening the Galeri Dunia Seni Lukis here, Friday.

Nomination day for the Permatang Pauh by-election is Saturday.

Dr Mahathir also acknowledged the Chinese language proficiency of Arif Shah, saying that the added language would be an advantage for him in getting more votes especially from the Chinese voters.

"I'm still not that convinced that he (Arif Shah) can win but in view of his Chinese education, the Chinese voters may be attracted to him," he said.

On calls made by the PAS Ulama Council pushing for their party president to become the prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat succeeds in forming the new Federal Government on Sept 16, Dr Mahathir said: "BN is more solid. Pakatan Rakyat is not a proper coalition...it's just one party taking advantage of the people... not a proper coalition... just an understanding to contest in the general election."

The Ulama Council head, Datuk Mohamed Daud had during its assembly recently called for Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to be made the prime minister as he was more qualified.

Commenting on the upcoming budget on Aug 29, Dr Mahathir said the budget this year would be a significant one as the world was moving into recession.

"For the first time, everything has gone up in price simultaneously, and (it's a) high percentage... never happened in the history of the world," he said.

-- BERNAMA
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