I quit after complaints from Rosmah, PM’s Dept
The award winning ntv7 journalist Joshua Wong explains the reason for his shock resignation as producer for the current affairs talk show ‘Editor’s Time’.
I have on 20 April resigned as producer for ntv7’s talk show ‘Editor’s Time’.
I am dissatisfied on the way the company has handled two complaints which came from the Prime Minister’s Department and the First Lady (Rosmah Mansor). The complaints came after the airing the programme’s Kuala Lumpur roadshow (19 March) and Penang roadshow (8 April).
The company, without conducting due investigation, set unreasonable restrictions for the talk show on the issues to be discussed as well as those to be invited as panel speakers.
The restrictions are:
1) The show not allowed to discuss political issues;
2) Opposition leaders cannot be invited to the show, including DAP MP Tony Pua who was to take part on the topic relating to the New Economic Model, and
(3) Ban on the ‘Hulu Selangor by-election’ show, which was originally scheduled for 22 April.
These restrictions are not justifiable. It has threatened the independence of my job as producer. It is also a form of self-censorship, which is against the principal of fair and independent reporting. These restrictions have seriously affected the professionalism of the producing team.
According to my superior, Tan Boon Kooi (ntv7 Mandarin News and Current Affairs executive editor), the first complaint was made on March 19 after the airing of the roadshow in Kuala Lumpur the day before. The complaint came from the Prime Minister’s Department via SMS. This SMS was forwarded to me by email through Lee Siad Huey, the host of ‘Editor’s Time’.
