Tuesday June 24, 2008 MYT 3:30:10 PM

Parliament barricades removed (Update 2)

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional Backbenchers' Club deputy chairman Bung Mokhtar Radin (Kinabatangan) removed the barricades barring the media from the Parliament lobby at 2.15pm on Tuesday.

He announced "business as usual," allowing media representatives to move freely around the lobby.

The move came after more than 100 journalists from print, online and broadcast media organisations staged a boycott at Parliament on Tuesday morning after being denied access.

The area was cordoned off by Parliament security. The reason for such a move is unclear at the moment, but last Friday media organisations were told that beginning Tuesday, only five journalists per organisation would be allowed at Parliament.

The journalists, forced to operate in a small corner where press conferences are normally held, said they would not cover any press conferences held outside the chamber, nor would they entertain any such requests.

A group of PKR and DAP Members of Parliament (MPs) visited the media centre to hold a press conference, but were told that no statements would be recorded outside the chamber.

Journalists are restricted from moving freely in the Parliament lobby and only have access to the cafeteria, the press conference corner and the Speaker's office.

They have been barred from the lounge meant for MPs, cubicles for ministers, the bridge linking lobby to the next building where Prime Minister’s Office is located, mobile post offices and ATMs.

Lim Guan Eng (DAP - Bagan), who is also Penang Chief Minister, criticised the ban, saying that it did not reflect freedom of press and a first world parliament.

The number of press conferences held at the lobby has increased recently with the stronger opposition in the Parliament.

More ministers have been holding press conferences at the lobby. NGOs too have been meeting up with MPs at the lobby area.

(The Star)