Talk about media freedom in Malaysia and for a moment, I thought under the administration of the outgoing PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the freedom of our media are thriving, as much as the debate we’ve seen the other day between the Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim vs Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Malaysians were quick to jump into conclusion by passing good remarks on Abdullah to the extent we were comparing the rise of the open debate as tantamount to the presidential debate in United States. Old timer from one of the BN’s component party Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon went as far as suggesting to proclaim Abdullah as "Bapa Demokrasi".

The idea raised eyebrows among the medias, political analysts, politicians as well as bloggers and finally, the idea was killed off as yet-another stupid suggestion from Tsu Koon, probably as a show of courtesy for Pak Lah as he was the one who stood up for him when Tsu Koon was humiliated by the Bukit Bendar’s Umno division chairman Ahmad Ismail.

Now, when the Opposition MPs continuously appearing on a popular television program airing their thoughts on current issues, the show was discontinued, or rather, disappeared.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who suffered wrongful detention under the ISA as well as currently embroiling in the warfare against the Utusan asked if her appearance on the show last Sunday had led to the "disappearance" of the TV show.

Albeit being told the program was temporarily suspended due to "re-branding exercise", one can’t stop but to question the logic behind the move as even the producer is not aware of the status.

"Why was it done in such a hurried manner without informing the audience? The producer is also in the dark (as to the reasons)," she told reporters.

"There have been rumors that it was because of my appearance on the show that caused the show to be stopped.

"I would like to ask the information minister to explain why (the reason ),"

Now, it’s going to be the dead-end here. If the Information Minister is to be questioned in the Parliament tomorrow, let’s bet he is going to be nonchalance with his reply while putting up benign view just to satisfy the parliament crowds and it’s unfortunate for many of us who has no other option but to rely on the representatives we voted into the Parliament.

In the end of the day, what’s there the MPs can act upon if the minister is not upholding the pledge made by the PM recently in encouraging the media to speak out nothing but the truth besides putting him to shame in the Parliament? Is there any mechanism that can put into place so to ensure the medias are to be held accountable in giving Malaysians a fair view and access to both the Government ideologies as well as thoughts from the opposition camps?

Let’s not indulging in too much of political games. Dissenting view is not that bad, after all, it’s being given for free-of-charge isn’t it, so why not? Let’s learn from the opposition members too, it doesn’t mean if it’s something worth considering being presented by the opposition members, the Government must rush off to kill off the ideas so that they’re not being seen as incompetent and ineffective? Do listen, take it a step at one time and improve from there if it’s required. Let’s get down to work, to get through, to get on to and we Malaysians would be more than appreciative of the genuine steps taken by the Government (if there is any).

It’s too cruel for Malaysians to be denied access to one of the universal human rights as Malaysians nowadays are mature enough to exercise their own judgement when being presented with opinions and suggestions from both camps. Let the media practitioners out there do their work without any unwanted intervention from up there, do away with the unnecessary media act, takes your hands off the media and free up the media, please!

To Pak Lah, let’s hope that you’re putting yours ears closer enough to the people, do us proud by doing the right thing (among sooooooo many right things out there you set to achieve in another 4-5 months) before you relinquish the power.

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