No explanation was given for the sudden decision to take this particular episode, titled "I want to go to school", off the air.
An old episode of the 30-minute Siasat series was aired during the time slot for the award-winning programme, which is 11.30 every Thursday night.
The Siasatproduction team announced the change on its Facebook page last night, without giving any explanation.Some Facebook users suspect the reason to be political interference or media control.
An ntv7 source told Malaysiakini, that the team received a directive from the TV station's "higher authorities" on Wednesday, saying the documentary "I want to go to school" should not be aired.
They gave no reason, the source added.
He believes that the episode may have been deemed "harmful to Sabah's image", since it explores the plight of Sabah's native races in the areas of education and poverty, as well as touches on the shortage of electricity and water supplies in the state.
He added that this particular episode has also faced problems with the Censorship Board, and the producers had been forced to edit out some content. Yet, it could not escape the 'don't screen it' order.
Another source said it was not difficult to imagine the ban on the "I want to go to school" segment of the Siasat series because it touched on "sensitive issues".
On the SiasatFacebook page, the production team said this episode tries to reflect on the relative slow development in Sabah and Sarawak, despite the two states having joined Malaysia 48 years ago.The team says: "For the last decade and more, Sabah remains the poorest state. In terms of education, 21 percent of Sabahans never receive education.
"What kind of future these children will have? Why there is sharp wealth inequality in the town and rural areas of Sabah? Let us reflect this on question as we celebrate Malaysia Day."
Malaysiakini made several attempts to contact ntv7's Chinese news
“I am disturbed after reading the news that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) directed local broadcasters this week to not use the Undilah public service announcement (PSA) that was produced by Pete Teo and launched on Hari Malaysia,” she said in a statement today. Nurul Izzah (right), who was one of the participants in the video clip that also featured BN politicians such as Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong (below), said this contradicted with the government leaders' claims that Malaysia was the “world's best democracy”.
“At a time when those leading the country clamour about making Malaysia the 'best democracy' in the world, actions taken by entities like MCMC clearly undermine such efforts and belittle the intelligence of Malaysians,” said the MP who is also a PKR vice-president.
She maintained that the PSA was a rally cry for Malaysians to register as voters to strengthen the country's democratic process.“It is meant to rouse the democratic spirit of all Malaysians, regardless of political leanings.
“I call on the MCMC to clarify its orders to local broadcasters regarding this PSA, and in fact I urge MCMC to reverse its order and promote the video as a step to strengthening the democratic practice in our beloved country,” said Nurul Izzah.
A news website reported today that MCMC had in an email this week directed Astro and Media Prima Bhd not to air the PSA, as it featured opposition politicians as well as Tengku Razaleigh referring to problems the country was facing.
'MCMC must be non-partisan'
Tengku Razaleigh opens the four-and-a-half minute video saying, “Malaysia is a beautiful country, but there are many problems. I don't need to talk about them. We know what these problems are.
“What I do want to say is, Malaysia's future is in our hands. So if you haven't registered to vote, please do so as soon as possible...
“Remember, whatever happens, Malaysia is your country, this is our country, she has many problems. Malaysia needs us."
It also features Deputy Health Minister Rosnah Abd Rashid Shirlin (right in photo), DAP Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and PKR Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, along with artistes such as Namewee and Afdlin Shauki.
Nurul Izzah reminded MCMC that it was an independent body that should remain non-partisan in carrying out its duties.
“Let not MCMC's independence be subject to the political machinations of an archaic and dogmatic minister, who is lost in the undercurrents of partisan politics and quite out of touch with the latest developments in Malaysia's political scene,” she said.
On Malaysia Day on Sept 16, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak claimed that he wouldrepeal the draconian Internal Security Act to make Malaysia the best democracy in the world
Among the reforms he announced includedamendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), which has been seen as the biggest obstacle to media freedom in the country.
Meanwhile, polls watchdog Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) has called the ban on the advertisement as illogical as it is against the government's democratic pledge.
Bersih 2.0 steering committee member A Subramaniam Pillay, describing the video's withdrawal as defying logic, said it contradicted Najib's efforts to call for greater democracy.
“It seems as though the PM is doing something and then someone else is doing something else. The decision to ban the video completely is opposed to the prime minister's efforts for greater democracy and political liberalisation,” Subramaniam said.
“It also defies logic, as the Undilah video is seen as non-partisan.”
Another Bersih steering committee member, Maria Chin Abdullah, said the video encouraged people to register as voters, while her colleague, Arul Prakkash, said the video merely voiced a basic right of the people.
“If this is sensitive to the media, then when election time approaches, even the word undilah (vote) would be banned,” Arul quipped.
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