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From: South China Morning Post
Date: 05 May 1999
Time: 13:34:17
As experts debated press freedom in Malaysia yesterday, a judge issued a severe gag order that left journalists confused about what they could or could not print during the forthcoming sodomy trial of convicted politician Anwar Ibrahim.
Judge Abdul Wahab Patail barred lawyers from talking to reporters about the trial, due to get under way on June 7. He said if they were unhappy they should seek legal ways to express it.
He also said the media could only publish "factual evidence" relating to the Anwar case. This left reporters wondering if they could quote Anwar, his lawyers or supporters during the sodomy trial.
"Reporters of any media organisation breaching the order shall be barred from the court," Judge Abdul Wahab said in his ruling.
The judge's decision came amid growing unease among Malaysian journalists about what newspapers can or cannot publish.
On Monday, in a rare display of defiance, reporters handed Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a petition signed by 581 journalists for the repeal of laws limiting press freedoms.
Mr Badawi retorted that "freedom of the press must have restrictions. You cannot have freedom without limits."
Mr Badawi declared that "Malaysia needed certain controls to maintain harmony in its multi-ethnic society."
Judge Abdul Wahab said he was compelled to issue the ruling after a national daily published comments by Anwar's defence lawyer, Karpal Singh, calling for the judge to disqualify himself.
"Such alacrity to publicity is not in the best traditions of the legal profession," the judge said in a statement.
He stressed he would not disqualify himself from hearing the sodomy case if appointed.
Anwar, who appeared in court yesterday, was greatly disturbed by the gag orders and made angry comments to his lawyers for reporters to overhear.
His lawyers said they needed a few days to study the implications of the gag orders and questioned the constitutionality of the ruling.
Anwar was sentenced to six years' jail on April 14, after another High Court judge found him guilty on four counts of abuse of power.
The country's former No 2 leader denied all the charges.
The June 7 trial will focus on a charge accusing him of committing "carnal intercourse" against his former family driver, Azizan Abu Bakar, in May 1992.