Penang Watch

According to reliable information within the 5 Pakatan Rakyat states each state government may invest into producing their own paper to serve as `mouthpiece' of the respective government. We call upon the 5 state governments and the parties behind them to consider, instead, publishing a joint paper to be distributed to all 5 states, and to allow the paper to have an independent editorial ala BBC in UK or ABC in Australia. There would be no licensing problems under Printing Press and
Publications Act as state governments are exempted from licensing under
PPPA;

The reasons for the above suggestion are many:

1. This will distinguish the media policy between BN and PR governments: the former using media as propaganda top-down tool to keep the people under-informed and narrow-minded, while the latter respecting independent reporting and commentaries from the media ie a bottom-up, free paper, which serve to create a well-informed citizenry;

2.The independent paper that gives balanced reporting and commentaries will be a more effective rebuttal to the propagnadistic/bias reporting from the mainstream papers under BN control due to its enhanced credibility as a free paper, than another propagandistic/bias paper; Experience everywhere has proven beyond any doubt that independent media are more popular and credible than party organs/one-sided propaganda tool;

3. The combined paper will save from economy of scale in production, benefit from an expanded readership base, and allow tapping into a wider base of media talents/expertise;

4. The combined paper will serve as an open platform to help the 5 state governments to streamline the policies in the 5 states -which is important to build a strong, integrated image for the Pakatan Rakyat states, compared to 5 separate media; In addition the independent paper will serve as a credible monitor over the 5 state governments than a `mouthpiece' media;

5. The combined independent paper will give competition to BN's state funded media as well as BN controlled/oriented media and pressure these mainstream media to become more independent and people oriented; There is nothing better to persuade these mainstream media to be more objective and professional than a good competition in that direction;

The above proposal will be forwarded to the 5 state governments under Pakatan Rakyat. You are most welcome to endorse the call above individually as well as as a group. Please forward your endorsement to penangwatch@gmail.com