GE14: Information Dept received 183 requests for passes from foreign media
PEKAN, April 19 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Information Department (Japen) has received 183 requests from foreign media for temporary media passes for press coverage during the 14th general election (GE14).
Its director-general Datuk Ibrahim Abdul Rahman said this did not include 38 applications for media cards and permanent passes from foreign news agencies with representatives in Malaysia.
"Japen is working with Wisma Putra (the Foreign Ministry) to vet the applications and for approval to be given to every foreign journalist.
"We have no problems with these applications as long as they do not bring their own agenda or interests but if they break the laws of this country, they will face action, including being asked to leave the country," he said.
Ibrahim was speaking to reporters after the launch of the Communications and Multimedia Ministry's NBOS-CTU and the Pekan Kembara Jalinan Kasih programme here today.
He said local private media which want to provide coverage must have passes issued by the Election Commission to enter specific areas.
"But before they get the EC passes, they must have their media accreditation cards from Japen which is classified according to colours. This year, we (Japen) received 1,100 requests to renew and make new accreditation cards from local media.
Ibrahim also commented on imposters who pretend to be media representatives to enter press rooms for media practitioners.
He said these included new media like private bloggers who claim to be media but have not been accredited by Japen.
"I hope all media representatives wear their media accreditation and EC cards on their persons so that it is easy for EC and local authority staff to identify them.
"It makes the job easy for all parties including the media representatives themselves so that nobody will masquerade as them," he said.
-- BERNAMA
