Gerakan has condemned the Kedah State Government’s decision to ban several media organizations from covering the three-day Kedah state assembly sitting, saying it violates freedom of speech and information.
Kedah Gerakan chairman Dr Cheah Soon Hai said the people should be allowed to read what they want to read and not at the behest of the PAS-led Pakatan Rakyat state government.

Urging the state government to lift the ban quickly, Dr Cheah, who is also Derga State Assemblyman, likened the ban as a “persecution” by the State Government against media organizations which did not report news to their liking or favourable to them.

“It is also absolutely wrong for the state government to make the decision, merely because it is unhappy over newspapers’ reports over its alleged failure to help the recent flood victims,” said Cheah in a statement.
Cheah said the state government should be open-minded and accept constructive criticisms. “If you have not done and not done enough to help the people, especially the flood victims, and protect their safety, don’t be afraid to admit the mistake,” he said.

“We are a fast growing nation, with a matured population. In the final analysis, it is the people who will decide whether what they have read are good or bad,” Cheah said.

Cheah stressed that a fair, critical and responsible media is crucial for the future of Kedah and its people.

Representatives from several media organizations were stopped at the state assembly building’s main entrance on Sunday. The list of media organizations that were allowed to cover the sitting was distributed to media organizations in the state on Thursday.