P'ment lobby barred to media from now
Published on: Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia (pic) barred media personnel from reporting at the Parliament lobby effective immediately.Media personnel will now be restricted to the media room located a floor below the Dewan Rakyat.Reporters regularly work at the lobby in order to pursue ministers and other lawmakers who do not visit the media room to provide their statements.ADVERTISEMENT "I reserve the right to revoke permissions for any individual who do not adhere to rules, and this includes the media," Pandikar told the Dewan Rakyat.Security personnel immediately asked media personnel to vacate the Parliament lobby.In making his ruling, Pandikar cited lawmakers' security as a case for concern, labeling media members congregation at the lobby akin to a "picnic."He said that the presence of journalists and videographers in large numbers at the lobby seeking comments from MPs, has made them and himself feel uncomfortable.ADVERTISEMENT "First reason is to do with the question of security of all of Yang Berhormat, including you both," he said pointing to PAS Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar and DAP's Seremban MP Anthony Loke, who stood up to argue against the ban."Secondly, all of you Yang Berhormat including myself, work hard with regards to media coverage matters, newspaper coverage and all that. So, let the media members work hard themselves in doing their coverage and getting the material they need," he added.
ADVERTISEMENT
Yang Berhormat is a honorary term used to address elected representatives of the Parliament."So we have already prepared a place for media members. At the moment it is located downstairs. So whichever of you want to make press statements, go down. It's not that hard," he added.Pandikar lamented that the media culture observed in the Parliament here is also not practised at any other Parliaments."In other Parliament YBs, it is not like the Malaysian Parliament whereby the minister, upon exiting from the debate session, is immediately shoved with microphones. No such thing Yang Berhormat."Therefore, for the time being, my decision is my decision. However, I will make considerations from time to time," he added.Pandikar made the ruling citing Standing Order 94 of the Parliamentary House Rules which grants him the power to permit or ban any media members doing coverage within the parliamentary grounds.Meanwhile, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said he will bring up the zonal restriction ruling for media in Parliament in the next Cabinet meeting.Nazri, the first Minister to hold a press conference in the Parliament media room, said he will propose to the Cabinet that space be allocated for media personnel at the lobby."This area in the media room is good but to have a press conference, you need to be in a place where there is that connection with the media, meaning we should be able to see the media easily."Once I get permission from the Cabinet, maybe the minister responsible (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said) can deal with the Speaker."I will also speak to the Speaker. He is a decent man and does things in the best interst in the House," he said.Nazri added that the relationship between the media, ministers or lawmakers is not one-sided, adding it is a "love and hate affair.""Don't think that it is only the press who needs politicians, there are a lot of times when we need you.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
"Sometimes, we love you, sometimes we hate you," he quipped.The Padang Renggas MP said the media too should understand the predicament of some ministers who do not feel comfortable being "ambushed".