KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — The Parliament administration today restricted the media access to the lobby by barricading the area, raising the ire of journalists.
As a result, press representatives from the print, online and electronic media decided to only cover the proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat and boycott all press conferences or events held outside of the chambers.
But Kinabatangan MP Bung Mokhtar Radin of the Backbenchers Club removed the cordon after the lunch break, and told the media that it was "business as usual".
The ruling, apparently done on security grounds, earlier stunned journalists as it prevented them from moving freely in the lobby area or approach MPs.
This was the first time such a ruling has been introduced in Parliament but no explanation was given to the press.
Parliament security personnel were stationed at the cordoned-off area to prevent journalists, photographers and TV crews from approaching ministers and MPs.
Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) spoke about the House’s decision to restrain the media during Question Time today.
"The media’s work has been severely restricted as a result of this. The media plays an important role and should be allowed space.” He was heckled by BN backbenchers when he said the move was tantamount to not supporting press freedom.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the decision was taken following the chaotic scenes during the last session of Parliament in the lobby.
"It is a decision by the Speaker and the two deputies. Since you raised it, we will further discuss and announce another decision later," he said.
Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamad (BN-Pulai), when contacted, agreed with the move to restrict free access to the lobby for the press. "It was getting overcrowded with the cameras and everything. There should be a proper area for the press to operate (in the lobby)," he said.
He disagreed with the argument that limited access would prevent the press from carrying out their duties to the fullest. "If they want to talk to an MP, they can call him up," he added.
Besides the restriction ruling, Parliament administration has also barred press secretaries and aides of MPs from distributing statements to the media, saying only MPs were permitted to do so.
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