Parti Keadilan Rakyat

KENYATAAN MEDIA

WALAU HARI-HARI MENDATANG KELIHATAN KELAM, KITA TAKKAN MENYERAH KALAH

Setiap pagi Sabtu, sudah menjadi kebiasaan untuk saya membaca akhbar The Edge Weekly. Rencana-rencana mengenai perniagaan, ekonomi dan politik di Malaysia amat teliti dan ditulis dengan cermat. Rencananya menyumbang kepada suatu perbincangan yang ilmiah bagi memastikan demokrasi di Malaysia diamalkan secara sihat.

Namun hari ini, saya, seperti juga ribuan ahli-ahli perniagaan malah rakyat Malaysia amnya, tidak dapat menjalani rutin ini lagi. Pentabiran negara yang ala-kuku besi kelihatan seperti bukan sahaja takut kepada kebenaran, malah begitu takut kepada rakyat yang berani mempersoalkan kewibawaan kerajaan.

Tatkala Rakyat mendambakan jawapan, nampaknya hak kebebasan rakyat untuk bersuara diinjak-injak. Tidak syak lagi serangan terkini ke atas kebebasan bersuara dan kebebasan media akan merosakkan lagi imej Malaysia di mata dunia.

Saya amat kecewa dan sedih dengan keputusan pentadbiran Dato' Sri Najib Razak untuk menggantung penerbitan The Edge Weekly dan The Edge Financial Daily hanya kerana kedua-dua akhbar tersebut menjalankan tugas dan tanggungjawab sebagai media. Serangan terkini ini adalah rentetan dari banyak lagi serangan ke atas media di Malaysia; stesen radio dan laman berita online telah diberi amaran, dan wartawan juga telah ditangkap dan disiasat di bawah Akta Hasutan. Jangan kita lupa betapa ramai lagi ahli-ahli politik, aktivis, malah juga kartunis yang sedang dihadap ke mahkamah dibawah Akta Hasutan hanya kerana mereka berani bersuara.

Apakah hari ini kita di berada di tepi jurang yang terbina akibat dekad-dekad keangkuhan, rasuah dan keruntuhan sistemik asas demokrasi dan kedaulatan undang-undang? Walaupun hari-hari mendatang kelihatan kelam, saya menyeru supaya rakyat Malaysia tidak patah semangat. Inilah satu-satunya Malaysia yang kita ada. Ketepikan perbezaan dan marilah kita sama-sama bangkit untuk menyelamatkannya.

Ada pihak-pihak yang mahu memecahbelahkan kita, yang mahu kita berhenti berusaha. Namun kita tidak akan menyerah kalah. Kita akan bangkit untuk membina sebuah Malaysia yang lebih baik bersama.

Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Ketua Pembangkang
Presiden KEADILAN

25 Julai 2015

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PRESS STATEMENT

DARK DAYS AHEAD, YET WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP

Each Saturday morning, my usual routine would have me pick up and read through The Edge Weekly. I've always found their articles on Malaysian business, the economy, and politics to be insightful, honest, and done without any fear or favour. The writings contribute immensely to the robust debate that is so integral to our democracy.

Today I, like many thousands of Malaysian business leaders, captains of industry, and the Rakyat in general, find that this routine has been broken. The iron fist of an administration that fears not just the truth, but even those who dare to question, is unveiled yet again. At a time when the Rakyat demand answers, it appears that the right to even ask is being trampled. There is no doubt that this latest assault on freedom of speech and freedom of press will hurt Malaysia's image.

I am deeply disappointed with the Najib administration's decision to suspend The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily for doing what any member of the fourth estate should rightfully be doing. It should be noted that this suspension is just the latest of many attacks on the Malaysian press; radio stations and online news sites have been cautioned, and journalists have been arrested and investigated for sedition - only because they were doing what they rightfully should do: report the news. And let us not forget the many more politicians, activists, and even a cartoonist who are being prosecuted under the archaic Sedition Act for merely asserting their freedom of expression.

Today we stand on brink of an abyss that is the result of decades of arrogance, corruption and the systemic corrosion of the principles of democracy and the rule of law. While the days ahead appear truly dark and foreboding, I call on all Malaysians to not lose heart. This is the only country we have. We must set aside differences, come together and rise to save our nation.

There are forces that want us to divide us, that want us to give up. But we will never give up. We will never surrender. We will build a better Malaysia, together.

Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Leader of the Opposition
KEADILAN President