IN his commentary on the National Union of Journalists’ proposed “fair reporting pledge”, former MySinchew editor Bob Teoh urged journalists to refrain from unethical reporting. He noted that fair reporting might come at a cost, whether in increased union dues or decreased chances of promotion. Teoh’s sentiments about both the possibility and the price of […]
centre for independent journalism
Syabas concession agreements: Why so secret?
THE federal government has prevailed yet again in keeping secrets from the Malaysian public. On 25 Feb 2011, the Court of Appeal overturned a High Court decision compelling the disclosure of an audit report and a 2004 water concession agreement. How are the audit report and the agreement significant? And why did the Court of […]
The impossibility of policing the web
The endless distractions on Facebook are the bane of my working life. As a freelance consultant, I need discipline and a strict schedule to meet tight deadlines. But then a friend from university announces his baby is having problems feeding, and so I stop my work to suggest strategies for feeding babies. Or to respond […]
Malaysia’s gay threat
ON 15 Dec 2010, 32 year-old Azwan Ismail, a Malay-Muslim Malaysian, posted a video on YouTube in which he declared, “I am gay and I’m OK.” One week later, he told the media that he feared for his life. And who could blame him? He now has the de facto minister of religion, the Perak […]
Supporting The Nut Graph’s Plan B
[Updated 11.10am, 19 Oct 2010: See update under Monetary contributions] AND so it’s finally happened. We packed up our stationery and notebooks, sold the fax/printer/scanner, cleared out the pantry and shut the office. As of 1 Sept 2010, The Nut Graph is officially operating under Plan B. Contrary to some perceptions, we haven’t “closed down”. […]
The Securities Commission’s powers
The Securities Commission’s investigation of the Kenmark scandal exposes flaws in the Securities Commission Act 1993. More on this issue in Found in Quotation.
Take back the tech!
Corrected at 3.20pm, 10 Dec 2009 MORE than 30 years ago, a candlelight procession of women marched through the streets of Belgium in 1976 to Take Back the Night. Women asserted their right to move in public places, during the day and particularly at night, without having to fear that they would be harassed, raped […]
CIJ condemns MCMC censorship
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 Sept 2009: The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has criticised the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) over its directive to Malaysiakini to take down video reports related to the protest against the relocation of a temple in Shah Alam. CIJ executive director Gayathry Venkiteswaran said the government directive was unwarranted as […]
Al Islam breached code of ethics
PETALING JAYA, 13 July 2009: Al Islam magazine clearly violated journalistic ethics when it went undercover at a Catholic mass and partook of the holy communion, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said today. “I don’t question the subject matter of the story, which was about finding out about alleged conversions of Muslims to Christianity. […]
Debate on royalty suppressed
(Pic by hinks / sxc.hu) POLICE reports, bullets in the mail, angry protests and police interrogations. These are threats that have been expressed and carried out against individuals who have commented and criticised the monarchical heads in Malaysia. The monarchy appears to have garnered more media attention as newsmakers and opinion leaders in the last […]
