Blocking the Media
A democratic country is supposed to have media that is impartial to politics. Its purpose is to report the events in an unbiased manner without conviction. Of course it goes without saying that these reports must be as close to the truth as possible. The Federal Constitution provides for the freedom of speech. Sadly this is not the case in Malaysia as media interference is the vogue here.
By Hakim Joe
Just last month, the Malaysian Navy encroached upon Indonesian waters and the Indonesian warship, KRI Untung Surapati-872 was nearly forced to shoot at a Malaysian warship, KD Yu-3500. This occurred at the Ambalat Block, just south of Tawau. A day earlier, another Indonesian warship, KRI Hasanudin-366 also drove away KD Baung-3509, a helicopter of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, and a Malaysian Beachraft which tried to enter the Ambalat Block. On the 17th of June, the Chief of the Malaysian Navy Admiral Abdul Aziz Jaafar offered an apology to the Indonesian government over the Ambalat affair when a five member Indonesian parliamentary delegation arrived at his office.
Now, why was this not reported over the media? It could have been an oversight if this was an isolated case but thirty six separate incidents that went unreported?
How about the Saifool (correct spelling) medical report that was leaked from Pusrawi Hospital that indicated that the alleged victim was never sodomized? Why did this report not obtain media coverage here until MT reported it?
What about the contagious Leptospirosis outbreak at the Juru Detention Camp (Bukit Mertajam) for undocumented migrants which caused the deaths of Burmese Sa La Hin (26), and Thang Hoih Ping (21)? Only after 123 civil society groups from all around the world issued a joint statement did one English print-media in Malaysia publish a report.
Or the time that the American president took a month before they finally decided to send a congratulatory message to Najib after he became PM of Malaysia?
What about the annual reports from Transparency International, UNDP (now defunct), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and a score of other international organizations that have seemingly failed to be reported on local media?
I am sure that there are a lot more news events that have not been reported on the mainstream media. Of the few that can be construed as anti-establishment, these news were reported in such a slanted manner that truths became half-truths and lies became blatant lies. Why must it be this way? Do these media think that Malaysians are so naïve to swallow it hook, line and sinker?
The answer is yes and no. Yes because a lot of what is reported on the print media is regarded as absolute truths by people who are plain ignorant or who are not informed otherwise, and no because the reporters are not programmed to care if what they report are half-truths or blatant lies. This about sums up what work pride means to the average reporter here in Malaysia. Having said so, this does not mean that they are absolutely dishonorable because most of the reporters and editors are handicapped by Malaysian laws and by threat of closure.
As the caliber of reporting goes down the drain, the people can only hope to obtain truthful reporting from alternative sources and since print media is unable to provide such sources here, it is entirely up to the electronic media to fill in this gap. The government understands this fact and tries hard to impose censorship on this medium but its actions backfired on them woefully as exhibited in their attempt to block MT.
As this option was a no-go, the remaining option is an operation of disinformation where all efforts are mounted to discredit them. Little do they realize that such pitiful actions merely serve to enhance the reputation of those they attempt to discredit. The co-opting of other bloggers by means of intimidation can only go so far as this can only be imposed forcefully on local bloggers.
