Government Order Barring Smog Talk Sparks Debate
11/8/97
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Headline: Government Order Barring Smog Talk Sparks Debate
Source: Reuters
Date: 11/8/97
Author: Nelson Graves
Copyright: Reuters Limited 1997
SMOG ORDER SPARKS DEBATE IN MALAYSIA.
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Malaysian government order barring scholars from
talking to the press about the ill effects of smog plaguing parts of
Southeast Asia has set off a heated debate about freedom of speech.
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's cabinet issued the directive last month
to state-run universities and institutes, Education Ministry officials
said.
The circular instructs professors, researchers and others working on the
smog problem to refrain from discussing their work directly with the press
and instead present their findings first to senior university officials for
review.
The government says the order will prevent inaccurate information from
reaching the public and stave off panic.
"In sensitive issues like haze, the cabinet has decided that only those in
higher authorities should give statements," Education Minister Najib Abdul
Razak said earlier this week.
Officials said they hoped the directive would help shore up national and
international confidence in Malaysia, shaken not only by damaging publicity
about the smog but also by a sharp depreciation of the ringgit and a stock
market selloff.
But environmentalists and academics said the order impinges on scholars'
freedom and the public's right to know.
Overlying the debate is a blanket of smog -- called haze in the region --
created largely by fires in neighbouring Indonesia that have been stoked by
drought.
In recent months the haze has reached unhealthy levels throughout much of
Southeast Asia, forcing some flights to be cancelled and hurting the
tourist industry.
The smog has begun to taper off with the arrival of annual monsoon rains
but continues to ebb and flow.
Malaysian newspapers have begun to highlight the debate. "Dumbstruck", "Gag
Order Adds Insult to Injury" were headlines in Friday's papers underscoring
concern over the order.
"The circular was not an attempt to gag them. They can continue research
but they must put it to higher authorities who will verify it," an
Education Ministry spokesman said, adding research on haze should be
cleared through vice chancellors.
The official cited one inaccurate report that claimed breathing outside on
a hazy day was like smoking 40 cigarettes.
But officials acknowledged more was as stake than accuracy.
"People don't understand the implications of the haze on the economy, and
all experts want to show is that they are smart," Information Minister
Mohamed Rahmat said on Friday.
"All professors want to speak, all NGOs (non-governmental organisations)
want to speak, but what do they do besides talking about it and making news
that unnerves people?"
Environmentalists and opposition politicians condemned the order. "We feel
that everyone has the right to give their views, whether it is informed
opinion or not," N.M. Masri of the Malaysian Nature Society told Reuters.
"It is up to the public to decide who to listen to. If the government
controls the information, it could be misleading."
Parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang of the Democratic Action
Party (DAP) party asked whether the order was "another indication of the
coming crackdown on human rights and another 'Dark Ages' for democracy in
Malaysia?"
The Education Ministry spokesman disagreed.
"We are not trying to suppress information or the freedom of expression.
But there is a certain national interest in view of the currency problem.
We hope our image will improve. We want to ensure that the confidence level
improves in the country."