Pua left out facts over DAP’s adverts, says The Star
(The Star) – The Star has run DAP advertisements on its radio stations 988 and Red FM but only an advertisement for its newspaper was rejected because the party refused to add its logo onto it.
According to a spokesman, a statement made by DAP’s publicity chief Tony Pua had conveniently left out that the radio advertisements were accepted and aired.
He said the rejected print advertisement was not attributed to any individual, party or group.
The spokesman said the company was uneasy with the design of the advertisement as it clearly violated the Malaysian Code of Advertising and Home Ministry guidelines.
It showed independent candidate Datuk Ibrahim Ali holding a keris with the words “a vote for MCA is a vote for Umno and Perkasa”.
He said it appeared to incite racial sentiments and that DAP itself was unable to explain in what capacity or function was Ibrahim kissing the keris.
“The DAP could not tell if Ibrahim was holding the keris at a silat or political gathering, and in what context,” he said, adding that the party could not even verify where the picture was taken.
The spokesman said this in response to a statement by Pua that The Star had turned down the print advertisement which showed Ibrahim holding a keris with Barisan Nasional candidate for Shah Alam Datuk Zulkifli Nordin.
The spokesman said DAP also refused to put its logo on the advertisement, adding that the party finally agreed to substitute the picture of Ibrahim with the keris.
“But by that time, it was already past the booking and printing deadline. It looks like the DAP planned all this to have its advertisement rejected, before submitting a so-called compromise version, and to attack The Star” he said.
He said normally, advertising material should be handed over to the office three days in advance but the rule was waived with DAP being given 24 hours to do so.
He regretted that the DAP statement had omitted to show that the 998 radio station had run its advertisements.
“Under normal circumstances, the radio advertisement material needs to be given seven days in advance but we accepted last-minute changes and material.
“The DAP was also given hefty discounts for its advertisement spots on a sister radio station, Red FM, a fact which Pua also did not mention. He will probably say he was not aware of these,” the spokesman said.
He said advertisements in any political form can be accepted, even if deemed controversial or offensive as these were merely opinions, but cannot be accepted if deemed to be inciting racial tension.
The spokesman said The Star had carried news and photographs of DAP on its main pages and Metro Central. In Metro North, a whole page was dedicated to the DAP mega ceramah in Penang.
He said even Pua had been given coverage in the newspaper and its online portal since the campaigning started.
Over the past one week alone, The Star has carried two reports and a picture of him even though he has been away from his PJ Utara constituency busy campaigning elsewhere.
“He was even invited to have a video interview to be carried over The Star Online with over 40 million page views.
“We regret that he has not been thankful to what The Star has done for him. We also regret that he has not been truthful,” the spokesman added.
