PENANG, 20 Nov 2008: An assemblyperson today proposed that the Malay daily Utusan Malaysia be prohibited from covering Penang state assemby meetings.
R S N Rayer (DAP-Seri Delima) said the newspaper often reported untruths and had twisted a statement by Deputy Chief Minister II, Prof Dr P Ramasamy (DAP-Prai) regarding the issue of Malay domination in the public sector.
“I suggest a ‘fatwa’ (decree) be issued to prohibit Utusan Malaysia reporters from covering state assembly sittings after this,” he said during the winding up of the Supply Bill 2009, which started today.
He said Utusan Malaysia’s report titled Dominasi Melayu dipertikai published on 14 Nov was not true and had caused a police report to be filed against Ramasamy.
However, deputy speaker Tan Hock Leong rejected the proposal and allowed the daily to continue coverage on the basis that the state government practiced media freedom. — Bernama
