SHAH ALAM, 3 Jan: National Laureate, Datuk A.Samad Said, described the Red Pencil Protest, involving media practitioners of leading news portals in Malaysia, as a ‘new kind of courage’.
Welcoming the programme organised by the Angry Media Movement (GERAMM), he considers those involved as being the new hero of voicing the rights of proletarian readers.
He said the birth of the new heroes, particularly among young media practitioners, are needed in understanding the importance of press freedom for the future.
“This is a new kind of courage because all these while, we only hear new about pressure (on the media). Very rarely do we hear publicly about a fight (protest).
“I think this should be encouraged and I welcome it well,” he told Selangor Kini.
The Red Pencil Protest, scheduled to be held in front of the Bar Council in Kuala Lumpur, begins at 2pm on January 4.
The protest is following the suspension of the English language weekly newspaper, The Heat, in addition to bringing up eight demands related to media freedom in Malaysia.
A.Samad Said, affectionately known as Pak Samad, has previously led a Berita Harian editorial conference in the 70’s. However, he believes such organisation may face accusations that there is a specific agenda.