Broadcasting bill to be amended if too restrictive of new media, says MP
Lower House MP Khine Maung Yi has said the government-drafted television and broadcasting bill will be amended if it infringes on the right of every citizen to engage freely in broadcasting services.
The Ministry of Information submitted the bill to the Lower House of parliament on Monday, after it was discussed in the Upper House.
“If the TV and broadcasting law restricts the right of our citizens to freely engage in broadcasting services, we must have it amended. If some provisions have such restrictions, we will remove those provisions,” Lower House MP Khine Maung Yi told reporters.
He said existing TV and broadcasting companies enjoy special privileges, stifling opportunities for new broadcasters. The MP blamed the bill for protecting existing broadcasting services.
“We haven’t seen transparency and freedom in the broadcasting media. What kind of protection does the law offer? Is there really press freedom? If the law has blunders and biases, we have to amend it. It is not necessary to enact the law promptly. Detailed discussion is required,” said Khine Maung Yi.
Responding to criticism of the bill for protection state-run media, Information Minister Ye Htut said: “There is no protection of state-run media. Think of it. The license duration is the same for both state and private media. Moreover, we no longer have state-run media. There are only departmental media, which mean they are from regional governments and self-administered zones.”
“For our Union government, we have to go with public service media. We enjoy no more opportunities.”
