In the Malay Press: Zam says Utusan’s racism is subjective

 

Zainuddin was commenting on CIMB Group CEO Datuk Seri Nazir Razak’s description of the frank views against Utusan expressed by AirAsia X chief executive Azran Osman Rani as “the hallmark of a great leader.”

 

Azran and the Umno-owned daily have been embroiled in a war of words after he tweeted that the paper’s articles such as ‘Apa lagi Cina mahu’ (What more do Chinese want) as “racist” and suggested that AirAsia X should not place advertisements in the daily.

 

“I do not know what is meant by Nazir in praising Azran’s forthright attitude. Was it due to his assumption that Utusan is a racist paper because it published ‘Apa lagi Cina mahu‘ or his threat to pull back AirAsia’s ads from Utusan.

 

“For me the assumption that Utusan is racist is subjective. It depends on one’s way of thinking and also his educational background and it is his right,” he said in his weekly column in Utusan.

 

Zainuddin criticised Azran’s intolerant attitude and said it was not appropriate for him to suggest the pull back of ads because he does not agree with the newspaper’s stance.

 

“Is this the attitude of an educated man who believes in freedom, democracy, openness and globalisation. Is this not a misuse of power or action which is not rational?

 

“In my view, if Nazir considers Azran a great leader for his actions, then it means that he has given his blessings for anarchist practices of CEO or chief executives in corporate bodies and big business,” he said.

 

He pointed out that corporate giants and large corporations are more powerful than Western governments, threatening press freedom and manipulating editorial content with their financial power.

 

He said the power of corporations are not seen by many but instead the public only see the government using its authority to curb press freedom especially newspapers.

 

“Utusan knows a lot of negative things about AirAsia and has concealed them as have other newspapers due to monetary interests and ads, but apparently this is not enough for Azran.