KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has pledged to carefully examine concerns raised over the proposal to amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA).
"God willing, the government, through the relevant ministry, will review every protest, criticism, and suggestion raised to ensure a positive environment for the media industry while safeguarding their rights and freedom," he said in a post on Facebook.
This was following a memorandum protesting the amendments by the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM), Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), and Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm).
Senior Press Secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah received the memorandum on his behalf outside the Parliament this morning.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was reported as saying that the amendments to the act would only be tabled after consultations with the relevant stakeholders.
Civil society groups have long called for the PPPA's repeal, saying that it restricts freedom of expression.