Rais Defends Mainstream Media against Opposition Allegations of Bias

(Bernama) – TEMERLOH, 1 MARCH, 2011: Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim today came to the defence of the mainstream media and said their reporting of the by-election campaigns was fair and accurate.

He described as baseless allegations by the opposition political parties that the mainstream media were biased, saying the media owned by the opposition were more inclined towards that.
   
“Look at Harakah (newspaper of PAS), at what Harakah dishes out in its news and commentaries. Look at Rocket (of the DAP) and Suara Keadilan (of Parti Keadilan Rakyat). They publish according to their liking,” he told reporters after launching a programme to popularise art in Desa Murni, here.
   
Pahang Information, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee Chairman Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin and Information Communication and Culture Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Kamaruddin Siaraf were also present at the event.
   
Dr Rais said the opposition parties raised this issue because reports about them in the mainstream media were not to their liking.
   
The minister defended RTM (Radio Television Malaysia) over its news broadcasts, saying the station only presented what the opposition leaders said.
   
He said that if the opposition felt that a report was inaccurate, they could furnish proof for an investigation to be conducted instead of accusing RTM of manipulating facts. 
   

— BERNAMA