Azalina: We’ve our reasons for keeping news portals out

Prime Minister in the Prime Ministers department, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman commented on Gelang Patah mp Lim Kit Siang been suspended for six months for allegedly making disparaging remarks against Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Mulia.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister’s Depart­ment has occasionally restricted online portals from covering events attended by the Prime Minister to ensure news reports are better focused.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman in a parliamentary written reply said they had never restricted online media from covering events attended by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“There were times when the department limited the number of reporters covering his events, but only for certain reasons.

“These reasons include space constraints, safety factors and to ensure that the reporting was more focused,” Azalina said in response to a question posed by Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.

She said news portals, citing examples such as Malaysiakini and Malay Mail Online, were free to cover events attended by the Prime Minister.

Teo had asked the Prime Minister to explain why his department restricted the online news portals from covering events attended by him.