(Minghui.org) The Kajang Observer is a newspaper run by students in the Department of Media Studies at New Era College in Malaysia. The college is a privately-run institution of higher education established by the local Chinese community in Malaysia. When the paper reported in its local news on a Falun Gong parade held earlier, the newspaper's publisher, Ye Xintian, was displeased and suppressed the newspaper. Ye is also chairman of Dong Jiao Zong Higher Learning Centre, the leader in Malaysia's Chinese education. Students at the college were displeased with his reaction. Since it concerned the matter of freedom of the press and freedom of speech, this issue attracted the attention of the Chinese community and the country's media. As people condemned the censorship, they were also motivated to learn more about Falun Gong.
The Kajang Observer covered a parade held by the Divine Land Marching Band composed of Falun Gong practitioners in March 2012. The photo is the newspaper clip (Photo source/KNN )
On August KNN responded to reader requests to publish the report on the Falun Gong parade from the Kajang Observer, 5th Issue, 1st semester, 2012, to help readers understand the situation
In March 2012 the Kajang Observer reported on a local parade held by the Divine Land Marching Band composed of Falun Gong practitioners. When the newspaper applied to renew its printing license, which would expire on June 30, Ye Xintian, the publisher of the newspaper, refused to sign the renewal document. Kajang New Era Network (KNN), an electronic media of New Era College, interviewed Ye Xintian, who acknowledged that was true.
Seven New Era College departments jointly expressed their dissatisfaction over this issue and urged Ye Xintian to sign the renewal document within a week. The organizations were: the New Era College Students' Union, Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Art and Design Department, the Department of Information Science and Computer Studies, Drama and Image Department, KNN, and New Era Media Studies Department.
Netizens on KNN's Facebook also expressed their opinions. Wong Chip Choo said, “It's pure news reporting. Why is Yi Xintian upset?” Choonjoo Tan said, “The CCP pulls his strings.” Crystal Yee said, “It's clear that he is making things difficult.”
Falun Gong is legal in Malaysia, and the parade reported by the Kajang Observer was also legal. The police did not interrupt the event, and the report itself did not cover any sensitive issues.
Falun Dafa Learning Center Calls on People Not to Believe the CCP's Lies
The Malaysia Falun Dafa Learning Center issued a statement regarding the incident, expressing profound disappointment for Ye Xintian's discriminatory act. The statement said that, over the past 13 years of brutal persecution of Falun Gong by the CCP, the communist regime has mobilized the nation's propaganda machines to slander Falun Gong on a large scale. Many people in China and abroad have had misunderstandings and even harbor hatred for Falun Gong.
Several TV stations and newspapers in different languages in Malaysia have reported positively on Falun Gong, and the Malaysian government has not taken any action to suppress them.
The Malaysia Falun Dafa Learning Center hopes that Dong Jiao Zong Education Center and Dr. Ye Xintian will learn the facts about Falun Gong via independent media and not believe in the CCP and its mouthpiece media's lies. The center also hopes that Dong Jiao Zong Education Center will correct its mistake and allow the Kajang Observer the freedom to cover Falun Gong and any other truthful news, so that it will be worthy of being the leader in Chinese Education in Malaysia.
KNN Once Again Publishes the Coverage on Falun Gong Parade
As requested by its readers, KNN published once again on August 11 the report on the Falun Gong parade made by the Kajang Observer in the 5th issue, the 1st semester, 2012. This was the report:
Falun Gong Parade in Kajang Promotes Kindness
By Wang Jiarong
Falun Gong's Divine Land Marching Band marched into the Kajang downtown area while performing on parade at 5:00 p.m. on the 21st of last month. They also distributed flyers and DVDs to promote Falun Gong's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. They attracted a large number of spectators.
Su Linda, the person in charge of the activity (57, a housewife) said that they hope to remove the public's stereotypes about Falun Gong through holding the parade.
The parade was supposed to set off at 5:00 p.m., but due to unfavorable weather, they waited until the rain let up, 20 minutes later than scheduled.
Music Enters Kajang
She said that it was the second time that Falun Gong had come to Kajang. Their first visit was in May 2011. They performed at Plaza Metro Kajang. This time, they chose to parade to promote Falun Gong.
The Divine Land Marching Band is composed of Falun Gong practitioners from all states in Malaysia. The musical instruments and transportation were provided by the members of the band. The band has about 50 members, and participants include the old and the young, men and women.
