PETALING JAYA: PAS is behaving like the Taliban who smashed television sets and forced Afghans to only listen to their propaganda, MCA Publicity Bureau chairman Senator Datuk Chai Kim Sen (pic) said in response to the party's move to restrict the media coverage of its muktamar.
It was reported that PAS would ban any media from covering its meeting for publishing “any news which should not have been reported and which causes a negative impact in the opinion of the PAS central committee."
Chai said the censorship that the PAS information and muktamar media committee had imposed on media reporting "only points to PAS’ fears of independent media reporting and that it does not want to improve on its weaknesses to benefit the rakyat, especially on hudud law."
He said for PAS to regard any news as “negative” was totally subjective and shows it could shift the goal post anytime according to its whims and fancy.
“For the avoidance of doubt and to prove its sincerity, then PAS should list down the types of articles it considers appropriate or offensive,” he said in a statement.
Chai said news reporting and commentaries were reported from different angles and it was the responsibility of the media to act as check-and-balance, at federal or state level.
Chai also asked if PAS wanted to prevent the media from reporting its deep internal chasm between the ultra-conservatives aligned to president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang and the so-called Erdogan group supposedly led by Mohamad Sabu.
On dress code for media workers, Chai wants PAS to explain how a striped or chequered long-sleeve office or t-shirt worn by male media workers should be regarded as offensive.
“Similarly, so long as modesty is practised, PAS should not assert subtle pressure by imposing its conservative values on non-Muslim women to don the headscarf,” he said.
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