The Malaysian Insider

ANALYSIS

PARLIAMENT, June 24 — It's a different showdown in Parliament today – between the parliament administrators and the media. And it doesn't bode well for any party, particularly the government of the day that is already unpopular even among its members.

Citing security reasons and to prevent chaos outside the chamber, the Parliament administration has shut the media from most sections of Parliament and restricted access to ministers and lawmakers, raising their ire and leading to a reporting boycott of all events except Parliament business starting today.

Ironically, the restrictions comes at the heels of opening up Question Time to live broadcasts over terrestrial television and greater interest in parliamentary sessions following Barisan Nasional's worst-ever defeat in the March 8 elections that swelled the Opposition bench to 82 lawmakers.

Sure, the debates haven't improved with catcalls and insults traded inside the chamber since Parliament convened on April 28 while outside, the quiet corridor is a marketplace of activists, lobbyists and an increasing number of reporters crowding and ambushing ministers and lawmakers for everything and anything.

In fact, any decently-dressed visitor can enter Parliament these days, with a bicycle to boot. Much to the chagrin of the formerly dominant Barisan Nasional lawmakers still struggling to cope with the loss of its two-thirds majority and under threat of imploding as the government of the day.

So to impose its authority and majority in Parliament, a BN backbencher claimed that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Nazri Abdul Aziz has directed Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to put the media in its place, at the sidelines and to be summoned at will like in the old days of strongman rule without any question.

"It is a decision by the speaker and the two deputies. Since you raised it, we will further discuss and announce another decision later," deputy speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar earlier told Bagan MP and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who questioned the media restrictions.

The decision received some support. Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan pointed out that the lobby was getting overcrowded.

The Parliament administration have also imposed new rules, stopping press secretaries from distributing releases and only allowing five from each media organisation - effectively choking media coverage and output from exciting developments around the chamber.

Such top-down orders and directives might have worked in the past but obviously, the executive has yet to learn any lesson from the last general elections reflecting the difficulty for the ruling coalition to adjust itself to the reality of a stronger opposition and a bolder local media, even those pro-government, asserting their rights and freedom to report.

Already on the ropes despite having a majority, the Parliament decision will add pressure on Abdullah who has been stymied by Cabinet, party and civil service intransigence and apathy over his reform agenda for the executive and judiciary and to allow the legislature and media more latitude in their business.

That latitude has allowed parliament officials to trade freedom for security. In the current face-off with the media, the winner is the one adjusted to the new reality