KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 — CodeBlue’s website is in black and white today to support a protest by journalist groups against proposed amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984.
Malaysiakini reported that the protest in Parliament today was organised by the National Union of Journalists of Peninsular Malaysia, Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm), and the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ).
The government is reportedly planning to impose a licensing requirement for online media in its proposed amendments to the PPPA.
If the Madani government goes ahead with the bill and Parliament passes it, this will likely affect CodeBlue’s ability to independently report health care issues in the country.
The field of medicine and health care does not operate in a vacuum in public policy. Whatever happens outside can impact the health care sector.
For more than five years, CodeBlue has been able to report freely on various health care issues across the public and private sectors, including publishing countless anonymous letters by health care workers that has often led to positive change.
Press freedom is crucial for CodeBlue to continue our work in providing a platform for open debate and the democratisation of information on health care issues and policies that were previously kept opaque.
