Editor's resignation sparks fear in KL press

Editor's resignation sparks fear in KL press

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): The resignation of the editor of a top Malaysian newspaper group has sent a chill through the local media with speculation that more heads will roll as Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad shores up his power base.

Politicians and media executives said yesterday that this week's surprise resignation of Johan Jaafar, group editor-in- chief of Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd, had sparked worries of a government clampdown on "negative" reporting by the local media.

Johan's resignation on Tuesday caused ripples among journalists because local newspaper editors usually rise and fall on the government's nod.

Rustam Sani, a noted social critic and a former professor at National University, said Johan had been perceived by some as demonstrating a pro-Anwar bias by highlighting the allegations of nepotism and cronyism that had gripped last month's annual convention of the ruling United Malays National Organization.

UMNO president Mahathir is widely expected to be challenged by Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Utusan has been seen by some as being supportive of Anwar's aspirations.

"Their line of reporting has always been favorable to Anwar," he said.

"It is not the first time," said Lim Kit Siang, the opposition leader in Parliament.

The chief editor of a powerful English daily was similarly removed in the mid-1980s, said Lim, leader of the Democratic Action Party.

"This does not bode well for the development of an articulate, responsible and vibrant press," he said.

The daily has a circulation of about 250,000. On Sundays it sells about half a million copies. The group is largely owned by Mahathir's UMNO party and the chief editor is often a political appointee of the prime minister's.

The Utusan media group controls several newspapers including the mass circulation Utusan Malaysia.

Another opposition leader, Lim Guan Eng, said there was now confusion over the government's policy towards the media.

"Will there be a change in policy? Whereas Malaysian press should be more transparent, accountable and more liberal, are they going to substitute this for a tightening of the screw?" Johan announced his decision to a group of senior reporters and said he had submitted his resignation letter to Mahathir.

The national Bernama news agency quoted a senior Utusan reporter as being told by Johan that it was better for him to quit now "to prevent his presence from impeding the progress of the group's newspapers and publications".

Malaysian newspapers have to get yearly publishing permits from the Ministry of Home Affairs which is headed by Mahathir. Johan was appointed to the influential post in 1992. Utusan's former editor-in-chief, Zainuddin Maidin, resigned after an apparent fallout with Mahathir.

Johan's resignation came two weeks after Mahathir criticized local media for "negative" and "sensational" reporting of problems at Kuala Lumpur's new airport which opened on June 30.

Malaysian newspapers detailed problems at the new airport -- including flight delays, missing baggage and lost cargo -- for four days, before toning down their coverage.

Other analysts said Johan's fall was linked to pre-election moves by Mahathir.

Mahathir recently appointed his trusted lieutenant, Daim Zainuddin, as minister in charge of economic development, raising speculation that the prime minister was clipping the powers of Anwar, who is also finance minister.