Media Monitor

http://www.thenutgraph.com/better-access-to-information
 
Published by The NutGraph
 
January 22, 2009

PETALING JAYA, 22 Jan 2009: The March 2008 general elections have increased prospects for greater freedom of information, with Pakatan Rakyat governments taking the lead.

Cover for the annual review by CIJ”The Selangor and Penang state governments have made public announcements to introduce freedom of information (FOI) laws in their states within the year,” Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said in its 2008 review of freedom of expression in the country.

The review, which was released today, also noted the move, though unsuccessful, by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Member of Parliament (MP) for Subang, R Sivarasa, to initiate a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament on FOI.

It also commended Pakatan Rakyat MPs for committing to the setting up of a parliamentary caucus on media freedom.

Another breakthrough in 2009 was the Works Ministry’s release of controversial toll concessionaire agreements to the public, CIJ said.

However, CIJ still expressed disappointed with the Barisan Nasional (BN)-led federal government.

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Published by The Edge

Nov 24, 2008

In July and August 2008, inflation hit 8.5%, a 26-year high for Malaysia. This was triggered by the government’s decision to increase pump prices on June 4 by 78 sen to RM2.70, a 40.6% increase over the previous rise of RM1.92. Fuelled by a steady rise in crude oil price, which climbed above US$120 per barrel in May, higher oil prices have caused the prices of food and other necessities to increase sharply.

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Published by The Edge

Nov 24, 2008

With the economic slowdown eating into household incomes, the number of people who will fall below the poverty line is expected to increase sharply.

But how the poverty line is determined is in itself a subject for debate. There are different points of view on this, with some economists saying it is currently too low and therefore understates the number of people who are poor.

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http://www.thenutgraph.com/terengganus-slippery-oil-royalty

January 8, 2009

PUBLICISED figures on the amount of oil royalty remitted to Terengganu don’t match. And because no clear explanation is forthcoming, expect the issue to be exploited by PAS, and glossed over by the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.

PAS promises to flog the issue in its campaign. The BN, however, already considers the subject closed, as the federal government has promised to repay the balance of oil royalty due, which is now being calculated. It will also let Petronas pay the full amount of 5% directly to the state every six months, beginning March 2009.

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 Jan 11, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry has denied HERALD permission to print the Bahasa Malaysia segment in its pages until the case on the use of the word “ALLAH” is resolved by the High Court. This was conveyed by a letter faxed to the office of HERALD on the eve of the expiry of the 2008 permit and that too after 6.00pm on Dec 30, 2008.

HERALD is the only Catholic weekly in Malaysia which carries Catholic news to the nations near 900,000 Catholics. Some 600,000 Catholics are bumiputera from Sabah and Sarawak. Today travel is made easy and a good number of them have migrated to West Malaysia for various reasons. They communicate mainly in Bahasa Malaysia — the Nationa lLanguage.

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