PM7: Media Freedom & News Sources

From The Star, Nov 13, 2006~~


PMi:
Fu: Press freedom alive in Malaysia

KUANTAN: Press freedom is alive and flourishing in the country, according to Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow.

“I beg to differ that the Government is curtailing the freedom of the press.

“Just look at the reports of the murder of a Mongolian model.

“All kinds of speculative reports and theories were published in the newspapers. Even I am confused which ones are right and wrong,” he said at Wisma MCA here yesterday.

Fu said the number of stories was an indication of the freedom given to the local media.

“As long as the issue does not affect national security and interest, we will not take action.

“Take for example, the SMS alleging that a group of Muslims would be baptised at a church.

“This irresponsible action has created tension and could have jeopardised racial harmony,” he said, adding that the police were in the midst of tracking down the culprits.

On the suspension of the Weekend Mail, he said it was for an indefinite period.

Fu said that not all the six letters issued to the paper earlier were warning letters, some were reminders and advisory notes.

“This shows that the ministry has been very tolerant until the paper went overboard by publishing a series of articles on a touchy subject,” he said.


From The Star Nov 14, 2006~~


PMii: Tuesday November 14, 2006

MB: Mufti briefed group about conversion claims

KUALA LUMPUR: Perak Mufti Datuk Harussani Zakaria had only informed a group of people at a closed-door meeting at the state mosque of the allegations that some Muslims had converted to Christianity, said Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali.

The Perak Mentri Besar said the objective of the meeting had been to control young people so that they would not go astray.

“But somebody picked up one of the examples given and cited Datuk Azhar Mansor. The Mufti is not involved in the SMS but he might be the reason for the SMS being spread,” he said yesterday after attending the Umno pre-council briefing by the party president at PWTC.


Zainuddin: Says issuing factually wrong statements could lead to public outrage

A widely circulated SMS caused quite a furore last week because it alleged that national mariner Datuk Azhar Mansor was an apostate, and would lead a ceremony to baptise a group of students at the Church of Our Lady Lourdes in Ipoh on Nov 5.

This turned out to be false and the supposed baptism was in fact the Holy Communion for 100 Catholic children.

Tajol Rosli said the mufti had explained to reporters on Sunday what had actually taken place.

“It's up to the police to investigate,” he said.

Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin said that many people suspected Harussani had sent the recent offensive SMS because he had previously made claims of Muslims turning apostates.

He said earlier this year the mufti told a Malay daily that over 100,000 Muslims in the country had converted to other religions.

“So, when the recent SMS surfaced many believed it had come from him,” the minister added.

The mufti had claimed then that the number of Muslims who converted was provided to him by a group of professionals and students.

The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), later denied the figures, alleging they were obtained through unreliable sources.

Zainuddin said: “The problems that arose from the SMS and how Harussani was made to look like its sender, should serve as a lesson to all those in senior positions.”

He said civil servants in positions of authority should refrain from making statements unless the facts had been verified by the relevant government agencies.

They should be able to distinguish matters that are sensitive in nature, he said, adding that issuing factually wrong statements could lead to public outrage.

Zainuddin said they should not blame the media for running their inaccurate statements because the media would regard them as reliable sources of information.

“The onus is on the government officials to make sure that they have all the facts because they have all the resources, including the police, to check if the facts they received are true,” he said.

Sisters In Islam programme manager Norhayati Kaprawi said the Perak Mufti should have kept the information of the alleged baptism ceremony to himself if he had doubts about the authenticity and validity of the claims.

“He should have kept the information to himself and submitted it only to the police for further investigation.

“He should not have disseminated the unverified outrageous claims to other Muslim NGOs in a mosque,” she said in a statement here yesterday.

Related Stories:
'Baptism' message started by woman, claims Perak Mufti

(Go buy a copy for RM1.20 to read the fool story! Don't rely too often on Desi for second-hand news although I know many of you don't trust the MSM. mGf Howsy defines MSM as Mainsttream Mass Media. -- Skip a cuppa, will ya, Good for thy heala!)From a loctor with false credentials. So don't interview Desi if you wanna writHe on Cancer or ***How to Get Pregnant with the Best POSITION****.

DESI: Invites my EsteemedReaders -- lust call! -- to give thy comments on the Prime Monitors i and ii above, long ones also welcome, before the hoRst adds his 3sen worth. I'll offer you two cups of the bestA tehtarik or cAfeeeChiinoRoosserie, this being a damn cold day. But it's gooder in a way -- tempers won't rise to boiling point (ala MITI Minister?) so easily. Strive To Be AP!

UPDATEd @3.33PM:From Letters to the Editor, Malaysiakini.com, an oldish item but highly relevant, especially from one with 4th Estate experience ~~

PMiii:


Police state: Where is your honesty Tun?
SKJ
Nov 3, 06 4:18pm

Dr Mahathir Mohamad must have a poor memory or he simply thinks Malaysians have memories that fade off over a short period of time. Calling Malaysia a police state is indeed something that'll send any Malaysian rolling with cynical laughter. It was obviously a police state during his 22 years of power. It was a police state when citizens were imprisoned for simply voicing out problems and concerns of discrimination as well as marginalisation of the poor and illiterate.

In my short tenure as a news journalist, I know how editors have been called to the prime minister's department to ‘sort out’ news that can or cannot be reported. As a caring Malaysian, I have seen how peaceful assemblies to voice out against discrimination and neglect (a last resort taken by Malaysians after letters requesting for a meeting with the PM or other were rejected) were greeted with FRU officers who treated the rakyat as "terrorists". The FRU was protecting the politicians rather than serving the citizens. The FRU used batons and tear gas to 'shoo' away the marginalised Malaysians.

I have seen how, after long years of struggle, press releases and endless letters to ministers including to the prime minister, electricity was still not supplied to a ‘kampong’ in Kedah (one case, which is only a tip of the iceberg).

I have seen how the economic policies have divided the races and instilled fear rather than respect. I have seen how Malaysians were converted into gullible consumers who value material possessions rather than values until corruption is part of everyday life. Tun himself admitted during the end of his tenure that corruption has mushroomed and the very Malays he tried to empower (with his economic policies) are now adversely affected.

I have come to observe that Tun's open criticism of Pak Lah has been personal and on issues personal to him, nothing of national interest. Tun picked on issues that serve him and his affiliates. What about the neglected estate workers who have been living on meagre salaries for generations while the multinationals were (and are) enjoying mega bucks?

What about the tobacco farmers whose leaves are of poorer quality but the tobacco industry still sings their importance just so to maintain their market share.


Where is your honesty, Tun? You never maintained it during your tenure and the press are freer now compared to your time. They can openly voice out on issues and finally there seems a light for investigative journalism. There are no longer threats of a recurrence of May 13 like you issued before just to make thinking Malaysians shut up.

***It is also a breeze reading the newspapers nowadays as the face of the prime minister is not the cover model any more.***

Tun, please stop being the pot calling the kettle black. Let Pak Lah lead. After all, he is leading the pack that you put on the platter for him. Meanwhile, allow the rest of us to be the judge.

DESI: I'd like to express heartfelt thanks to the writer SKJ whose views are definitely shared from the heart by one who has witnessed the hppenings of the Press at close hand. THANKS for the sharing. In fact I would be AP to buy you tehtarik should you have the time/occaison to visit Furong. Drop Desi a line K! via chongyl2000@yahoo.com.


***TEASER****

***tea****

***SIR!****

Desi was a three-year-old news puppy when one cold day he "happened" on a senior's copy in the nu'es room, where no secrets were sacred, and your POSITION was of no CONsequence unless you were ON THE VERY TOP. And please, don't let thy imagiNATION run wild. I'm not writHing about missionaries and nuns.

I so happened on this supposedly "I should know, cos I've been here longer than you by at least three (or A-more) years!" senior's report.

News source: JKR worker he met at his tea-stop on way home one evening.

Topic: HOW TO CHANGE THE SEX OF THE BABY STILL IN THE WOMB AFTER CONCEPTION

The HOW(LER!) of the story! BY VARYING THE SLEEPING POSITIONS OF THE MOTHER-TO-BE.

Yes, this "veteran" reporter -- that was how a TV3 glamour gal of two yaers experience was described by a fewllow print journalist -- insisted that his copy be sent to the NEWS DESK OFFICER (we call him The OC, for Officer-in-Charge, ala yur friendly neighbourhood Balai Polis). Desi from the busybodiness of his mind/mine, told him: "Are you sure? You are NOT quoting the proper authority to write what essentuially is a medical story -- interviewing a Public Works Department worker!"

ENDING: The report lasting at least 30 paragraphs -- it was as long as an average length FEATURE -- was KILLED of course. It went straight to the waste-paper basket.
So next time a senior tells you "I know better because I've been here longer than you",there are TWO OPTIONS you can take:

(1) Show him the middle finger;
(2) Offer him Desi's latest tea-SIR!


"CHOW!" which can mean either:

(i) See you again later;
(ii)Go eat your breakfast, CON or neoCON or non-CON, also Cun,
jest don't send the bill to Teh-C!


UPDATEd Nov 15 @12.34PM:


Helen said...

I meant to include this in your yesterday's posting but I'll put it here.

There has been alot of talk about wild speculations from some blogs and media regarding the Mongolian model case which might in turn jeopardize the case should one day it sees the inside of a court.

IMHO, tongues will wag faster than a puppy's tail whenever there is a sensational case in the papers. That is of course undesirable, but then, not exactly to the point of 'jeopardizing the outcome of the case.' Tell me please (I'm not being cocky here..) how could all those wild speculations and tongue wagging jeopardize the case to such extent? Bear in mind, unlike most countries, where jury perception is the key to a fair trial, we in bolehland are exempted from such dilemma with the abolishment of the jury system. Unless we do not have confidence in our 'learned' judges, people can talk or speculate all they want, it does not have bearing at all in the outcome of the case. Well, that's my humble opinion.

As for press freedom, I agree it has gone from bad to better, but, I can only say it's selective freedom and as long as it is not politic-related.
2:38 PM "

DESI: Helen, it's okay that your Comment rests here as Mr Fu did refer to the wide ranging coverage of the Mongolian Model Murdere case as a shining example of Press freedom. I share your view that this case holds a lot of "human interest" and media competition serves to whet the curious cats' appetites. So long as there are NO insinuations or/and innuendoes as to the guilt or character of the "players" under investigation, I can accept the Press stories, and Blog Posts too, except a "glaring" failing of many (I would say more than 50% in some sites!) Commenters in Blogsphere already passed judgement on who the murderer was plus unnecessary intrusion speculation and conclusion as well as to the father of the "child" of the deceased.


On MEDIA FREEDOM, Helen, I agree with you the local scene has gone from "bad to better", which means there is a lot of room for improvement. However, as you say, the freedom is applied "selectively" -- that is, at the whim and fancy of the Government, specifically the over-powering Internal Affairs and Information Ministries.

When Fu cited the Murder Case as an exaqmple, he picked a very "poor" case. Yes, in CRIME reporting, or SPORTS, the local media enjoy much more latitude. But when it involves POLITICS and CIVIL SOCIETY, the fields are much more restrictive in terms of monitoring and selective control. Great leeway for pro-Barisan political news, hardly any space, and if give also focusing on NEGATIVE DEVELOPMENTS, of Opposition and NGO activities and causes.

I would certaily like to see the Equity ownership of newspapers be restricted to a maximum of 20% for any one political party, individuals acting in concert with any political party as well as preventing a monopolistic situation from arising (like it is now the case with Peninsular Chinese Press ownership.)


At the personal level, I certainly feel "freer" nowadays to write my thoughts in Blogsworld. But I wear TWO hats -- as a freelance journalist, I also feel more comfortable under the present rergime than the older one, though I won't pass a definitive judgment for now as it's too soon to tell. (I am taking Pak Lah's word for it that he truly wants to promote a freer but responsible media environment, which of course encompasses Blogging too.)

I'd like to see the abolishment of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984; more prudent use of the OSA and ISA; in fact, it would be progressive for media freedom if Pak Lah's government would consider enacting a FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT as is applicable in neighbouring Thailand and in Australia.




O2Deprivation said...
"The mufti's credibility and his claim of innocence in the SMS scandal is in doubt. He has once spreaded the rumours that 100,000 muslims have converted (Desi: 2 words DELETED at Commenter's correction) and I wonder how much can we trust his statement now.

What do you expect from the followers with leader who gave confusing statements.

9:43 AM

DESI: Yes, I note that you, O2dep, have kept an observation of this "error-prone" Mufti -- Let's see if he mends his way, and not find an inferior scapegoat; or Isit sacrificial lamb?