Date Posted: May 13 2025

                                                                    

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATION TO LOOK INTO CASES OF JOURNALISTS' SUSPENSIONS IN THE COUNTRY

Approved for Immediate Release by HON. MARSH NAREWEC, MP - Chairman of the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Communication

FRIDAY MAY 9TH, 2025 | THE PERMANENT Parliamentary Committee on Communication plans to hold an inquiry into cases of journalists’ suspensions because of their work in the country, after public backlash on the suspension of Kalang Advertising Ltd’s FM100 Talkback Show host Cullighan Tanda, following an interview with Governor for East Sepik Province, Hon. Allan Bird on the popular radio show recently.

Committee Chairman and Member for Wau-Waria, Hon. Marsh Narewec made this announcement following a meeting today with Mr Tanda, FM100 CEO Bill Wartovo and Media Council of Papua New Guinea (MCPNG) President Neville Choi who each provided a brief to the Committee, their standpoints of the issue.

Hon. Narewec stated that, as the Committee responsible for oversight on communication and media issues in the country, it will convene to deliberate on the recent suspension, as well as similar cases in the past.

He said that this falls within the Committee’s jurisdiction and is aligned with its Terms of Reference (TORs), which mandates the protection of media freedom—a fundamental principle that ensures the right to communicate and express oneself freely through various media, including print and electronic platforms.

Relevant stakeholders, both organisations and individuals, will be invited to present their respective submissions on the issue.

Details of the proposed inquiry will be announced at a later date.

For more information, please contact the Parliamentary Committee Secretariat on: +675 3277 785

Email: communications.committee@parliament.gov.pg or parltcommittees@gmail.com

 

Ends..///

 

FRIDAY MAY 9TH, 2025

 

CHAIRMAN of the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Communication Hon. Marsh Narewec, MP (seated right) and Committee Member Hon. Sasindran Muthuvel, MP (seated left).

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FOR MEDIA QUERIES: Contact the Parliamentary Media Services on:

Parliamentary Service, Parliament House Post Office, Waigani 131 NCD

Tel. +675 3277419 | Fax: +675 3277 480

Email: mediadivision.parliament@gmail.com | Website: www.parliament.gov.pg 

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