Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA News) - Malaysian Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin admitted that the mass media in his country envied Indonesia for its press freedom.
"However the mass media in Malaysia also freedom since the country became independent. Its positition is between the liberal and communist press, meaning that Malaysian press has already had such freedom since independence along with social responsibility the media has on its shoulder," Maidin said in an address in a get-together with the media here on Friday evening.
He invited editors-in-chief of the Malaysian mass media and also representatives of the Indonesian mass media in that country including the Indonesian Charge d`affaires Tatang B Razak.
According to him, press freedom in Indonesia was often used as a weapon by the opposition to mock at Malaysian mass media as being still under the control of the Malaysian kingdom.
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has provided such laxity to the mass media, but it was often misused by the opposition to criticize the new economic basis which has been developed into that country`s economic policy.
The opposition had also charged the privillege of Malays with other ethnic groups in that country. "This is very dangerous if the mass media functioned as an instrument to disseminate hatred among the tribes," he added.
On the occasion, the Malaysian information minister admitted that he had issued a warning to Metro TV in Indonesia for an exclusive interview with Anwar Ibrahim. "He is a bankrupt politician in Malaysia, why should he be placed under the spotlight and thereby flattered."
"Our warning was replied. Please let the Malaysian mass media interview an Indonesian opposition," the reply said.
"We won`t do that. We respect the Indonesian government. Under the ASEAN spirit, we will never give an opportunity to the Indonesian opposition to speak in Malaysian mass media," he said. (*)
"However the mass media in Malaysia also freedom since the country became independent. Its positition is between the liberal and communist press, meaning that Malaysian press has already had such freedom since independence along with social responsibility the media has on its shoulder," Maidin said in an address in a get-together with the media here on Friday evening.
He invited editors-in-chief of the Malaysian mass media and also representatives of the Indonesian mass media in that country including the Indonesian Charge d`affaires Tatang B Razak.
According to him, press freedom in Indonesia was often used as a weapon by the opposition to mock at Malaysian mass media as being still under the control of the Malaysian kingdom.
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has provided such laxity to the mass media, but it was often misused by the opposition to criticize the new economic basis which has been developed into that country`s economic policy.
The opposition had also charged the privillege of Malays with other ethnic groups in that country. "This is very dangerous if the mass media functioned as an instrument to disseminate hatred among the tribes," he added.
On the occasion, the Malaysian information minister admitted that he had issued a warning to Metro TV in Indonesia for an exclusive interview with Anwar Ibrahim. "He is a bankrupt politician in Malaysia, why should he be placed under the spotlight and thereby flattered."
"Our warning was replied. Please let the Malaysian mass media interview an Indonesian opposition," the reply said.
"We won`t do that. We respect the Indonesian government. Under the ASEAN spirit, we will never give an opportunity to the Indonesian opposition to speak in Malaysian mass media," he said. (*)
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