Geramm demands media freedom in protest

Angry media members take to the streets.

KUALA LUMPUR: Heavy rain did not stop a protest by a group people led by Gerakan Media Marah (Geramm) in the city centre on Saturday.

With cries of "Free the Media", the group which was mainly clad in red started the protest in front of the Bar Council and moved towards the Masjid Jamek LRT station, where a journalist was beaten up during the Bersih 3.0 rally in April 2012.  

The group of about 100 people, made up mainly of online editors, journalists, photographers and media activists, demanded press freedom, the revocation of "The Heat" weekly's suspension and the abolishment of the Printing Press and Publication Act.

Geramm spokesman Fathi Aris Omar said the group would soon be handing over a petition, its eight demands and a symbolic red pencil to the Home Ministry. 

They are also calling for better treatment of journalists and for all government and political events to be open to all journalists, regardless of their organisation.

"This protest is a message to the government to take note that media are now ready to take to the street to fight for press freedom," he said. 

The protest was also attended by former Bersih chairman Datuk S. Ambiga, social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir and DAP maestro Lim Kit Siang.

"This fight is not for the press but for the people," said Ambiga.  

The protest, held under watchful eyes of the police, ended without any incident at 3.30pm.