Monthly Archives: February 2014

Sizing up press freedom

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By BOB TEOH

Press freedom in Malaysia has taken an unprecedented plunge according to the latest ranking by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released last week. But the government doesn't think so. The Prime Minister's Office responded immediately, insisting that the press in Malaysia is freer than it ever has been. So who is right?

To begin with the index tabulated by RSF is flawed in its methodology so we need to take its ranking with caution. The government's claim, on the other hand, is mere rhetoric so we need to be equally cautious.

Out of the 180- countries ranked in the 2014 RSF press freedom index, Malaysia stood at 147 out of 180 countries surveyed, dropping 23 spots from the previous year. Compared to the 2006 index, Malaysia was in the 92nd spot, or a drop of 55 places over eight years!

The RSF index measures the level of press freedom using six criteria pluralism, media independence, environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency and (news production) infrastructure. But it also include another criterion for measuring violence against journalists which is given a weight of 20 percent. This might have skewed the overall tabulation. The index also lacks what is known as inter-coder reliability, a device for double checking data normally used in content analyses.

For instance the Philippines, which is among the freest press in the region, is ranked three spots below Malaysia, possibly due the violence against journalists in some remote provinces which are controlled by warlords. In Brunei, where violence against journalists is largely unheard of, the country is given a higher ranking of 117, or 32 spots higher than Philippines in terms of press freedom.

It is also incredulous that the US is ranked 46, or just one spot above Haiti, Japan at 59, is just two spots above Hong Kong and Britain at 33 is six spots below Ghana!

So how free is the press in Malaysia then? We can measure it against the government's declared intentions. Within six days of Najib Razak taking office Prime Minister on 3 April 2009, he called a closed door meeting of top editors. Najib told the top editors, "I will give latitude to the media" and went on to say "I'd rather be criticised by the media than be rejected by the people."

Najib even took the initiative to visit Sin Chew Daily, the country's largest newspaper just days before he became PM. Some months later, he made another visit, this time officially, making him probably the first Prime Minister to visit a Chinese newspaper. This contrasted with former PM, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who shut down Sin Chew Daily together with The Star and Watan for six months in a massive clampdown on civil liberties known as Ops Lalang in Oct 1987 which resulted in the arrest of over 100 dissidents.

Najib went on to reform press laws, in particular the amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 on 20 April 2012. The amendments removed the need for annual renewal of press licences. The absolute power of the minister in revoking or imposing arbitrary conditions was also removed. But anyone wishing to start a newspaper is still required to get a licence from the Home Ministry.

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Sizing up press freedom

Eugenics and Coerced Sterilization in California: A Digital History | MCubed Symposium 2013 – Video

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Eugenics and Coerced Sterilization in California: A Digital History | MCubed Symposium 2013
Eugenics and Coerced Sterilization in California: A Digital History is an interdisciplinary project that aims to create a virtual collection of archival, pri...

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Eugenics and Coerced Sterilization in California: A Digital History | MCubed Symposium 2013 - Video

IT, pharma sectors may run Telangana's economy

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Post bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the information technology and pharmaceuticals manufacturing sectors may become backbone of Telangana economy, leaving power production, ports and oil and natural gas to play a pivotal role in driving prosperity in the residuary state.

With nearly 1,000 km-long coast line, the coastal Andhra has major private ports such as Krishnapatnam, Kakinada and Gangavaram, besides state-owned Vizag Port and can continue to reap rich harvest by way of export and import of commodities such as iron ore and coal.

Lok Satta Party national president and MLA Jayaprakash Narayan, however, cautions that Rayalaseema region, part of residual Andhra Pradesh (the other part being coastal region), will be badly impacted in terms of revenue after the division.

"While Hyderabad city (which would be joint capital of the two states for 10 years before being exclusively of Telangana) had Rs 13,000 crore revenue surplus, Rayalaseema had Rs 7,000 crore deficit (four districts, 15 million population) during 2012-13. The proposed pay revision this year would take Rayalaseema's deficit to Rs 9,000 crore. The region will not have enough revenue to pay even staff salaries," Narayan said.

As much as 20,000 mw additional power capacity is targeted during the 12th five-year plan and beyond in Seemandhra region, including 6,000 mw nuclear power plant to be set by the Nuclear Power Corporation at Kovvada in Srikakulam District.

Telangana being land-locked will have to depend mostly on road and rail for transportation.

However, as the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad has necessary infrastructure for storage of drugs and pharma exports from Telangana may not face any hurdles. Hyderabad almost accounts for nearly 20 per cent of pharma exports from India.

Y Harish Chandra Prasad, past chairman of CII Andhra Pradesh and chief coordinator of CoastaRayala Development, said, "Telangana has the advantage of having ready made capital with all necessary infrastructure and eco system. Andhra will have to search for one and build.

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IT, pharma sectors may run Telangana's economy

IT, pharma sectors likely to be backbone of Telangana

Posted on by

Post bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the information technology and pharmaceuticals manufacturing sectors may become backbone of Telangana economy, leaving power production, ports and oil and natural gas to play a pivotal role in driving prosperity in the residuary state.

With nearly 1,000 km-long coast line, the coastal Andhra has major private ports such as Krishnapatnam, Kakinada and Gangavaram, besides state-owned Vizag Port and can continue to reap rich harvest by way of export and import of commodities such as iron ore and coal.

Lok Satta Party national president and MLA Jayaprakash Narayan, however, cautions that Rayalaseema region, part of residual Andhra Pradesh (the other part being coastal region), will be badly impacted in terms of revenue after the division.

"While Hyderabad city (which would be joint capital of the two states for 10 years before being exclusively of Telangana) had Rs 13,000 crore revenue surplus, Rayalaseema had Rs 7,000 crore deficit (four districts, 15 million population) during 2012-13. The proposed pay revision this year would take Rayalaseema's deficit to Rs 9,000 crore. The region will not have enough revenue to pay even staff salaries," Narayan said.

As much as 20,000 mw additional power capacity is targeted during the 12th five-year plan and beyond in Seemandhra region, including 6,000 mw nuclear power plant to be set by the Nuclear Power Corporation at Kovvada in Srikakulam District.

Telangana being land-locked will have to depend mostly on road and rail for transportation.

However, as the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad has necessary infrastructure for storage of drugs and pharma exports from Telangana may not face any hurdles. Hyderabad almost accounts for nearly 20 per cent of pharma exports from India.

Y Harish Chandra Prasad, past chairman of CII Andhra Pradesh and chief coordinator of CoastaRayala Development, said, "Telangana has the advantage of having ready made capital with all necessary infrastructure and eco system. Andhra will have to search for one and build.

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IT, pharma sectors likely to be backbone of Telangana

New Jersey Weighs Smoking Ban At Beaches, Parks

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TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) New Jersey lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban smoking at all public beaches and parks in the state.

A state Assembly committee advanced the proposal at a hearing Thursday morning. It now goes to the full Assembly, where a final vote has not been scheduled.

The bill is designed to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke at beaches and parks, cut down on litter and improve fire safety in those public areas. Smoking would still be allowed in parking lots near beaches and parks.

Violators would get fined $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense and $1,000 for subsequent ones.

When you look at our public parks and beaches, we do not want people to experience secondhand smoke, or increase the litter of cigarette butts, said Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri-Huttle, one of the bills sponsors. This enhances our beaches. I think it promotes more tourism.

Karen Blumenfeld, executive director of Global Advisors on Smokefree Policy, said more than a third of New Jerseys municipalities have laws on the books that restrict smoking in parks and recreational areas.

We all know that theres no safe level of secondhand smoke at all, she said. Secondhand smoke outdoors does affect people.

Blumenfeld said some beach towns already have banned smoking on their sands, including Seaside Park, Long Branch, and Sunset Beach in Cape May Point.

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New Jersey Weighs Smoking Ban At Beaches, Parks