Najib, Anwar, Guan Eng and newspapers
Dua kali lima. I was hoping the Home Minister would not over-react against Suara Keadilan, the party paper of Anwar Ibrahim's PKR, which has a limited circulation and influence. But, regrettably, it did. Before that, Ahmad Maslan gave a world-class headline opportunity to SK's publishers by slapping them with a RM200 million lawsuit.
At the same time, reading the comments by Kit Siang, Tien Chua, Nurul Izzah and Anwar Ibrahim on the suspension made me LOL. As I tweeted this morning to Tien Chua and Umno's Tun Faisal, both gentlemen known to me in the real world, "Dalam hal ni, korang semua sama saja. PKR suka saman paper, DAP suka bar paper, BN suka gantung paper."
And then Anwar Ibrahim tweeted that the banning of SK showed "PM Najib's autocratic rule - no tolerance of dissent, no free media, no indept judiciary. Yes to corruption!". I retweeted: "Like I said, no matter what, we journalists lose - Najib's government suspends newspapers, Guan Eng bans them, and Anwar sues us."
We can no longer deny it. Two years plus after PRU12, journalists' freedom continues to be in a dire state even - and sometimes especially - in the states ruled by parties that had promised us a better Malaysia. and a new dawn. Yawn ... We not only still don't have freedom of the (old/traditional) Press, we have also lost those idealistic people in politics and in government who used to support the fight for that freedom.
So get on with your politics guys and stop talking cock about journalism, freedom of the press, etc etc.
And thank god for the blogs
Freedom and Law
ReplyDeleteThere is a difference between taking action for breaking a law or laws and banning because of differences in opinion. If the law says so, even if one disagree with it, it must be seen to be done, at least. Otherwise, people take it as condoning the action. On the other hand, banning papers because of difference in perspective, while claiming to be champion of press freedom, is absolutely telling.
Agree paktam,
ReplyDeleteIn the case of Suara Keadilan's report on "Felda bankrupt", Felda can defend itself, can't it? Ahmad Maslan has a big enough machinery to correct the disinformation or misinformation. After that, and if SK refuses to run a correction and apologize, Felda can decide on the appropriate course of action.
Idealism is not dead, my friend. But it is drowning in the quagmire of realpolitik. I used to go out for drinks with a friend who happens to be a civil servant. She works like a dog (ergo i see her less nowadays), and cares like a saint for the people. A true servant of the nation. I keep encouraging her to continue serving, for at least then i can tell my other friends, that i know of officers in government who are worth every tax RM and Sen that LHDN collects. Indeed, they are worth their weight in gold.
ReplyDeleteThere are many many sensible, hardworking and idealistic heroes in government. But they are being hard-pressed to maintain their personal morale in a regime handicapped with corruption, inefficiency and an insular outlook.
To my friend and those who are trying their darnest to uphold their principles, we salute you, one and all.
As for politicians? Right now, really, I think that the mood of the nation is, you are GUILTY until proven innocent. This is true for ALL of you. If you think this is unfair, no one ever forced you to become a politician. Deal with it.
I think we must not condone any wrong and malicious reporting by any media - printed or otherwise.
ReplyDeletea million or two slap would mean nothing if the media are still allowed to spread malicious and seditious news.
suspension is the answer!
SC belasah newspaper reporter!!!!
ReplyDeleteas maradona says to that german fler...
ReplyDelete'whats with u najis? are you nervoussss?'
sorry bro
ReplyDeleteif BN did not saman, then somebody somewhere will tell BN 'no balls'.
if BN saman, the it's 2x5.
damn if we do, damn if we don't.
anyways.
lawan tetap lawan. saman tetap saman.
I agree banning newspapers, either under PPPA or because they "misreport" as claimed by LGE in Penang, should the very last resort.
ReplyDeleteThere are "pro" and "against" voices and the people are mature enough enough to distinguish trash from fact and class.
As for Felda, I have seen the summary of financials for 2004-2008 at Hantu Laut's blog click here.
If those numbers are correct, someone in Felda is misleading us about $ 12 & 15 billion shareholders' funds!
"Thank God for the blogs." Amen!
dpp
we are all of 1 race, the Human Race
SUE THEM BACK BRO! UNDER THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PRESS!!
ReplyDelete"We can no longer deny it. Two years plus after PRU12, journalists' freedom continues to be in a dire state even - and sometimes especially - in the states ruled by parties that had promised us a better Malaysia. and a new dawn. Yawn ... We not only still don't have freedom of the (old/traditional) Press, we have also lost those idealistic people in politics and in government who used to support the fight for that freedom."
ReplyDeleteNOW you know rocky. Hope its not too late.
No big deal. No license needed for electronic media. The govt does look stupid and dictatorial to the rest of the world. How can Malaysia be part of the global village?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous who wrote,
ReplyDeleteNo big deal. No license needed for electronic media. The govt does look stupid and dictatorial to the rest of the world. How can Malaysia be part of the global village?
6:20 PM
-----xxxx------
Lol. Electronic media macam TV3 and Astro, they need license. Yang tak perlu license blogs, portals dan most other internet-based media. Apa dah!
And let's not go over dramatic over the "global village" stuff. Our southern neighbour, Singapore, is way more intolerant when it comes to the Press and yet they are right up there in the so-called global village.
Yes Dato'..the cakap tak serupa bikin by politicians especially from the Pakatan in respect to press freedom is really annoying.
ReplyDeleteIf a BN Government is bad, god forbid, a Pakatan Government would be even worse in their iron control of press freedom. Let us count our blessings and "thank god for the blogs"
...and yes I hope Felda would be successful in their suit against Suara Keadilan..sue their pants off.
At least you are balanced. The Malaysian insider is the most hypocrite. The editor came out brazenly that the government is denying freedom of speech. But it itself censored my comments so many times. It never gave a thought on freedom of speech when one criticises Malaysian insider or the opposition. But suddenly now proclaim the saviour of freedom of speech. What a bunch of imbeciles these Malaysian insider editors.
ReplyDeleteEllese A
On the issue of calling Felda banckrupt, I think pakatan is practicising gutter politics. Take whatever definition of banckrupt and you can never in any standard conclude Felda is banckrupt. The allegation is definitely malicious and with ill intent. Pakatan faces difficulty in getting votes from settlers and are trying to instigate revolt on Felda based on blatant lies.
ReplyDeleteIs this what pakatan call a more principled and nobler approach than BN?
Ellese A
2010 - PKR suka saman paper, DAP suka bar paper, BN suka gantung paper. Pas? Makan paper?
ReplyDeleteKah...Kah...Kah
maka benarlah seperti tok nenek kita kata dulu ... "mata pena lebih tajam dari mata pedang"
ReplyDeletePoliticians who genuinely fight for honourable cause are scarce. Have you seen them in Parliament? Sometimes they don't seem to be old enough to hold any post.
ReplyDeleteIncreasing lawsuits may be a sign of many. Perhaps a show of increasing awareness, which is good in a way but may be detrimental in showing it shallow.
Our current issue, it is more often a publicity stunt lest a show of malice.
Rocky I visit your website after a long time after you become so Pro Najib. But your analysis is good. All three are the same in the way you explained. Hope all of them mull over it and leave the journalists free!
ReplyDeletepada fahaman saya la kan.. SK kena ban lepas berita "Felda Bankrup" dikeluarkan,adalah untuk mengelakkan terlampau banyak pertanyaan tentang arus perubahan dalam bidang ????. Kalau kita ikuti laporan akhbar arus perdana tidak berapa lama dulu "Ramai orang kaya malaysia melabur di Indonesia". Bank dalam malaysia yang hampir melingkup kerana membeli bank indonesia pada harga tak masuk akal, memperolehi untung?? Dan banyak lagi perkara berlaku.. Banyak kes yang perlu ditutup dari kes Felda ini. Jadi usaha untuk ban itu wajar dilakukan.. Pada pendapat saya itu lah yang berlaku... wallahualam..
ReplyDeleteFrom my point of view, for responsible press to flourish,the option for the public to sue any media for malicious reporting should be kept open so that the reporting are not malicious in nature, having said that however, the press should have the freedom to gather information and write what the perceive as the truth, thus they shouldn't be baned nor bared from doing the said tasks.If after being allowed to do so their writting is still malacious or is not of the standard of''responsible journalism" then the legal action should be a way to correct this as this way, the power to decide whether or not the reporting is irresponsible will be for the court to decide and not some politicians with political motive in mind( like the Home Minister).
ReplyDeleteI am with you sir!
ReplyDeletePak Rocky
ReplyDeleteNo one has sued the Singapore newspapers for reporting on developments in Malaysia.
Why is that, I wonder?
As you know, the Spore govt has taken on foreign publications in court and won.
Yet, the foreign media are perfectly happy to set up regional offices in Singapore to report on the region.
Double standards? You tell me.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
2010 - PKR suka saman paper, DAP suka bar paper, BN suka gantung paper. Pas? Makan paper?
Kah...Kah...Kah
5:06 AM
Salah tu!! PAS suka bakar paper. dia beli paper, pas tu dia bakar pulak. haru biru!
What if the media do not want to corporate to explain its probable 'distructive' action? Does the authorities just keep quite? This may encourage others to break the law!
ReplyDeleteThis is like going back to the feudal age. One Chinese emperor burnt all the books of Confucius, to stop the spread of a new culture. If course, lawyers did not exist then.
ReplyDeleteBut in this case, it appears like a tit for tat. Both sides of the divide are playing the same game.
Perhaps Confucius was right with his 'Do unto others' rhetorics.
A GOOD MAN DOES NOTHING.
skilgannon whatever,
ReplyDeleteAny worth suing Singapore newspapers in Singapore for reporting on developments in Malaysia? Ever any chance of winning?
"Spore govt has taken on foreign publications in court and won" - in Singapore? Naturally. The law of no return.
The foreign media are perfectly happy to set up regional offices in Singapore to report on the region - says who? You? Can any one believe you? Have you heard of LKY threatening foreign journos of sending them to Pulau whatever?
It's not Double standards. It's one and the same standard. You go to court in Singapore you face the law of no return.
Rocky,
ReplyDeleteAda pembahas spin; kalau kerajaan buat keputusan berhubung kedudukan sesuatu penerbitan ia bermotifkan politik! Lalu pembahas ini cadangkan agar mahkamah saja yang menentukan sama ada sesuatu artikel itu berniat busuk atau tidak!
Betullah cakap dia ni. Cumanya nanti apabila mahkamah buat keputusan dan keputusan tidak berpihak kepada mereka, mereka akan spin lagi: mahkamah kerajaan punya! Kah,kah,kah sampai kesudah perbincangan ini tidak akan selesai, bro.
Walhal, apabila media tradisi di ban oleh ketua menteri dan parti tertentu, tidak pula ada pihak yang kata itu bermotifkan politik. Inilah yang dikatakan golongan yang cakap tak serupa bikin. Bukan sedikit tetapi ramai jenis macam ini melontarkan pandangan di laman maya.
Kah...Kah...kah..
kadeer_jason said...
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
2010 - PKR suka saman paper, DAP suka bar paper, BN suka gantung paper. Pas? Makan paper?
Kah...Kah...Kah
kadeer ulas...
"Salah tu!! PAS suka bakar paper. dia beli paper, pas tu dia bakar pulak. haru biru!"
Komen saya...
Saya sangat bersetuju kerana Pas suka beli paper, lepas tu dia bakaq pula. Memang haru-biru
Cumanya saya ingin tambah. Lepas bakaq paper depa pi tandaih. Bila dah 'melepas' baru mereka teringat paper dah kena bakaq! Last, last paper sendiri jadi mangsa. Bukan lagi haru-biru, malah dah jadi haru-biru-maru, bro!
Kah...Kah...Kah
Anon 3.21 pm: "SC belasah newspaper reporter!!!!"
ReplyDeleteWhere's your evidence? Please don't talk cock without having your evidence.
Realistically, there is no freedom of speech, here and anywhere in the world.
Anon 1:47 PM
ReplyDeleteAiyoh, why u set yourself up to be skewered? Anyways, glad to oblige.
Let's see now - foreign news gathering and reporting organisations with offices in Singapore: Reuters, AFP, Dow Jones?Asian Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Xinhua, Bloomberg and The Economist.
Foreign news and TV channels with offices in Singapore: BBC, CNBC, CNN, ESPN, Disney Channel and Bloomberg.
Al-Jazeera came and went.
I remember that Astro had dreams of setting up an Asia media hub in KL some years back? Whatevef happened to that particular pie-in-the-sky?
Not really indicative of a repressive Singapore govt now, is it? Push comes to shove, these foreign media organisations are perfectly happy to set up shop in Singapore.
Heck - it must be something in their recycled H2O!!!
Or the bliss of not having to look over your shoulder for the moral police!