The Malaysian Bar - Forum on MPs in Conversation: Freedom of Information

Home

Committees

Constitutional Law Committee

Forum on MPs in Conversation: Freedom of Information - Your Right to Know?

Friday, 22 July 2011 09:26am

Speakers

Charles Santiago, Member of Parliament (Klang)

Professor Abu Bakar b Munir

Khairy Jamaluddin, Member of Parliament (Rembau)

Moderator

Masjaliza Hamzah (Centre for Independent Journalism)

Date: 29 July 2011 (Friday)

Time: 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Venue: Bar Council Auditorium (First Floor), No 15 Leboh Pasar Besar, 50050 Kuala Lumpur

The banning of books. The censorship of news. Restricted access to public records. Control over what the media can print and air. Are these restrictions justified?

Article 10 of the Federal Constitution states that, subject to certain conditions, “Every citizen has the right to freedom ofspeech and expression”.

However, access to public information and records in Malaysia is restricted by laws such as the Official Secrets Act 1972, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Sedition Act 1949 and Internal Security Act 1960. The free flow of information through the media, particularly the mainstream media, is also restricted by legislation. Should the Government police what we write, read, view and disseminate?

The coverage of the BERSIH 2.0 rally of 9 July 2011 demonstrates how reporting on the same event by the mainstream media on the one hand, and by the Internet and social media on the other, can be contradictory: Were there 5,000 or 50,000 protestors in the streets of Kuala Lumpur? Were the protestors violent? Were the security forces violent? Which is the truth, and do you have a right to know?

In the “Freedom of Information – Your Right to Know” forum, you have the chance to ask Members of Parliament and renowned academics about the current state of freedom of information in Malaysia. This forum is the first in a series of public fora entitled “MPs in Conversation” featuring Members of Parliament and commentators, and is conducted by the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee in collaboration with The Nut Graph and with the support of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. The “MPs in Conversation” series is held in conjunction with the release of The Nut Graph’s book “Understanding the Dewan Rakyat” in March 2011.

There are limited places available and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Completed forms are to be forwarded before 27 July 2011 (Wednesday) to:

Bar Council

No 15 Leboh Pasar Besar

50050 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2050 2050

Fax: 03-2032 2043/2034 2825

For more details or to register, kindly contact Mohd Fazli Rosman by telephone at 03-2050 2105 or by email at fazli@malaysianbar.org.my.

Please click here to view the circular and registration form.

Set as favourite

Email This