The Real Kadir Jasin

KadirJasin rose to fame under Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s regime. He is well-known for his biased journalism that only speak well about everything of Mahathir. After the dismal showing by the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition led by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the 1999 general elections, there were rumblings that the NST and its sister publications failed miserably is disseminating information to the public in the run-up to the polls.

Dato’ Haji Shahnon bin Ahmad, a National Laureate, once said, “His (Kadir Jasin) columns went overboard in trying to make the ruling government, especially Mahathir, look good, to the dismay and anger of the Malay community who ended up voting against Umno”. It was also said that due to Kadir’s unfair reporting, the public resorted to news from opposition newspapers that led to the skyrocket sales of papers like Harakah. 

Violation of the Code of Journalism

SEEK THE TRUTH AND REPORT IT. Journalists should be honest and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. Although in 1978 Datuk A. Kadir Jasin received the award of Editor Of The Year for Asia from Mitsubishi Press Foundation, he did little to defend his credentials thereafter.

In December 2014, Kadir was silly enough to claim that Malaysians apparently trusted Ibrahim Ali more than government leaders. The last I checked, Ibrahim Ali was torn apart in the 2013 general elections by the same Malaysians whom Kadir is claiming support Ibrahim. Maybe there has been another election held after 2013 that neither me nor the people of Malaysia are aware of that can justify Kadir’s claims.

The golden question is why did Kadir pass such a statement? If you recall, Perkasa was formed in 2008 and Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad was their advisor. There has always been a close link between Tun M and Ibrahim Ali. Some of you might now say that months ago there has been reports that Mahathir and Perkasa has parted ways. Dig up the past and look at history. This is Mahathir’s modus operandi. Support first, checkmate later

When the first sexual misconduct story arose against Anwar, Mahathir initially jumped to Anwar’s defense by saying it’s a false accusation as Anwar had many ‘enemies’. Defending Anwar at first progressed to checkmate Anwar Ibrahim in no time. It all happened because Mahathir felt threatened that in two months of being an acting Prime Minister, Anwar proved he is a way better leader than Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

He went on blindly accusing and hammering individuals in the country without any basis or evidence. Kadir once accused Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud of not allowing, in Kadir’s own words, “racist UMNO politicians” from entering and gaining access into Sarawak without any evidence. For this he received a lot criticism from the people of Sarawak. He also accused Dato’ Mohd Zaim Ibrahim of misappropriation of funds involving assets of UMNO. He labeled Zaim Ibrahim a menace in UMNO and PKR. These baseless accusations led to a defamation suit between Zaim and Kadir.

Was Kadir Jasin an Anwar ally?

In the early 1990s, Kadir was always known as Anwar Ibrahim’s ally. Then what brought the sour relationship between the two? In 1993 where there was a major revamp in the New Straits Times, Anwar made several important decisions that did not favour Kadir Jasin. Kadir got angry because Anwar refused to proxy him in NST, as Anwar Ibrahim sensed something fishy about Kadir’s intentions. That angered Kadir, and he maintained severe vengeance against Anwar till today. From then on, Kadir jumped onto the Mahathir boat and has been sailing with Mahathir till today.

How did Kadir’s pocket get fatter?

During Mahathir’s tenure in the early to mid 90’s, the local media empire consisting of Berita Harian, Berita Minggu, Harian Metro, New Straits Times, The Malay Mail, Shin Min Daily News and TV3 came under control of Realmild Sdn. Bhd, a RM2 company. Kadir Jasin was a partner of that company. Realmild even controlled stakes of MRCB and Kadir Jasin became an overnight millionaire.

The reason Kadir Jasin rants and draws bad blood about someone is only because that person does not play to Mahathir’s tune. After all, he made his millions through his ‘big boss’. He even called Khairy ‘biadap’ for questioning Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). I may not be a big KJ fan but he has every right to question FAM as every citizen of Malaysia does. FAM has done nothing for Malaysian football except giving false hopes. The whole country sees Khairy Jamaluddin as a potential good leader except Kadir Jasin, who probably thinks the best leader after Mahathir Mohamad is none other than Mukhriz Mahathir. 

What next?

It is not rocket science to predict what Kadir Jasin is going to say next. Wait for Mahathir’s statement and the next day check Kadir’s blog. It will be synonymous. Kadir says that leaders after Tun M ‘killed’ political legacy and replaced it with liberal and unrestricted open policies.

Is trying to kill corruption, cronyism, dictatorship and racism a bad thing, Kadir?

Is reviving the “crooked bridge” and cancellation of BR1M in your interpretation, continuing the political legacy, Kadir?