Press freedom: Who controls media owners?

I refer to the letter Press freedom limits set by owners.

When we talk about press freedom, we must not forget the parliaments Acts that pose a threat to our media institutions. For instance, the Official Secrets Act 1972, the Defamation Act 1957, the Internal Security Act 1960, the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and the Sedition Act 1948.

It is vital for democracy to honour and promote freedom of speech and press freedom, but I believe that there is a growing consensus that it is extravagantly hopeful to just wait for a policy change on press freedom. Censorship always protects a certain interest group.

It is true that press freedom limits are set by owners, but who sets the limits on owners? Controversial debate arose over whether a political party should buy over media institutions i.e. when the MCA-linked company Huaren Holdings acquired two Chinese language papers .

Advocates claimed that it is purely a commercial transaction, but did they give the same competitive chance to grassroots groups or opposition parties?

If government can own their media companies, why can't we set up our own media companies in communities?

Although one can buy a copy of Harakah or any of the other political parties' organs on the street, the facts continue to show that there are limits on circulation and printing capacity. Why can't they be given the same parameters as the mainstream media?

Maybe we should feel a little relieved that the government allowed - through the Multimedia Super Corridor's 10 Point Bill of Guarantees - the continued, open existence of online publications.

But when we look at Malaysian society, what percentage of families fully enjoy the advantages of the Internet? Ask our friends in journalism on how often do they surf online to get information and the answer might be startling.

Press freedom can only come from constitutional freedom. We cannot judge only by what is sold at newspaper kiosks, no matter how much freedom is given by government.

One day, when journalists can write or edit without fear of having their publishing licences suspended, and when people can choose to publish more than 1,000 copies of a publication without interference, only then will the notion of press freedom come true.