Heated Debate Over Use Of FINAS Act Amid Raids On Al Jazeera, Astro, And unifi TV Stations
The exchange took place during the parliamentary sitting yesterday, 4 August.
By Alyssa Pong — 05 Aug 2020, 01:11 PM
During the parliamentary sitting yesterday, 4 August, a Pakatan Harapan (PH) lawmaker engaged Saifuddin Abdullah in a shouting match over the use of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) Act 1981
Kluang Member of Parliament (MP) Wong Shu Qi pressed the Communications and Multimedia Minister regarding the use of the act against Qatari media network Al Jazeera.
"Why is the FINAS Act being used against Al Jazeera International Sdn Bhd when your ministry already agreed that the act had to be amended?"
"We all know that FINAS is used to encourage the film industry… But now it is being used for the news sector," she stressed.
Saifuddin Abdullah then redirected blame to the former PH administration, saying that they had not done anything to amend the FINAS Act
"20 months ago, the PH administration did not do anything," he claimed.
Wong immediately fired back, "YB Minister, we did not even apply these vague rules to the news industry."
The minister emphasised that his ministry had not abused their power as the Kluang MP had implied.
Instead, he explains that local television news stations are required to have a Content Application Service Provider license from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
According to Malay Mail, authorities alleged that Al Jazeera did not acquire proper licensing to film their controversial 25-minute documentary on the plight of undocumented migrants in Malaysia, Locked Up in Malaysia's Lockdown.
However, the Kluang MP did not let up and continued questioning the minister on what the appropriate use of the FINAS Act was
Wong raised her voice and protested, "But why are you using those rules to begin with?"
Clearly irritated, Saifuddin Abdullah retorted: "The problem is no action was taken during the 22 months under PH."
Their shouting match was interrupted by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun who muted both their microphones.
Clockwise from top left: Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun, and Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi.
Image via Parlimen Malaysia/YouTubeSaifuddin goes on to emphasise that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government is fully in support of press freedom, but was quickly interrupted by probes into the recent raids on Al Jazeera's office
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok raised questions regarding Tuesday's (4 August) raid of Al Jazeera's office.
Just as Wong chimed in, the Dewan Rakyat Speaker muted the MPs once again, saying that Saifuddin did not give way.
To end the conversation, the minister recited a peribahasa phrase: "Cubit peha kiri, peha kanan terasa."
By this, he meant that the government should defend Malaysians, specifically frontliners, and the country's image when 'attacked' by foreign companies.
Clockwise from top left: Saifuddin, Wong, and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.
Image via Parlimen Malaysia/YouTubeThe feud continued on Twitter, as several opposition MPs called out Saifuddin Abdullah on his speech
Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil, who pressed Saifuddin Abdullah late in July on FINAS licensing matters, reminded the minister that he was part of the very administration he's criticising.
Meanwhile, Kok took her disappointment online.
This comes after Al Jazeera, Astro, and unifi TV broadcasting stations were raided on Tuesday, 4 August
The police seized computers from Al Jazeera's KL bureau as part of their investigation into the documentary.
Meanwhile, Astro and unifi TV's stations were searched as both services offer programming from Al Jazeera, according to Malaysiakini.
A report by South China Morning Post noted that the raids were jointly conducted with MCMC.
