Media Bias Malaysian Style.

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Utusan Malaysia, TV3 and NST practice media bias which contravene standards of sound journalism and put their journalistic merits to question because of:


+++1 supporting governmental ‘feeding frenzy’ and pushing for pack journalism. The tendency of these media to move on to issues of the government’s best interest without providing follow-ups of previous cases intends to promote bandwagon fallacy.

E.g.; the Altantuya murder case and the alleged involvement of ‘prominent political figures’ in it.


+++2 downplaying the opposition without providing substantial and objective reason for doing so. Manipulation of information by way of alteration, restriction etc.

E.g.; expressing support for action taken by the police (calling in of lawyers for interrogations) even after being proven, unlawful (by the bar council).


+++3 sensationalizing minority views (government officials).

E.g.; the ‘wholesaling’ of Anwar’s DNA issue. Just recently; the statement made by Ibrahim Ali. This statement is fallacious for it does not address the questionable transparency and accountability of the government as a whole (amidst of ongoing trials involving the AG and the IGP).


+++4 The journalists of these media generally and senselessly accept the faulty notion that the government’s collective intentions are benevolent, despite occasional mistakes.

E.g.; turning blind eyes to vulgar signs and statements made by government parliament members such Bung Mokhtar of Kinabatangan and Hamidah Osman of Sungai Rapat and refusing to use means necessary to persuade the government to take disciplinary actions / such, against these figures.



+++5 These media mock the adversarial system of point/counterpoint by organizing biased poles, forums and debates.

E.g.; although the Shabery-Anwar debate was not directly organized by RTM, the tight control exercised by some factions within the government onto popular media can be clearly seen through;

1> the person/body organizing the debate failed to choose people who really represent the breadth of opinion (PM or TPM);

2> the person/body organizing the debate failed to ask non-prejudicial questions and to edit or arbitrate their comments fairly;

3> the person/body organizing the debate applauded the attacking of Anwar’s character done by Shabery (Argumentum ad Hominem) while obviously, the debate is about oil price.


***Citizens must avoid self-censorship by reading divergent sources and maintaining a critical perspective on the media in order to make informed choices and participate effectively in the public policy process.***

"Support Pak Lah against corruption"

Truth, Dare, Double Dare, Promise or Repeat?

ANWAR:

“They proposed to have a thorough check. Strip naked; I said yes. Private parts; I said yes. Photographs; I said no. There’s always the danger that it will ‘leak’ and this has happened before. It may appear in Youtube the next day.

Even to do that, my lawyers weren’t happy at all. They say; ‘what is the case?’. You must establish a case; a case that is considered to be at least with some grounds, in order to proceed, even if it is not prima facie. But here, the case is not established.

We are clear, absolutely clear on the alibi, every single minute of the day.

Then they asked for blood sample. This is, I think, the trick. They have my DNA.”

BBC CORRESPONDENT:

“These are what some people might call; the dark arts of politics of spin. There are some who said; in the past, while you were on the other side, you were associated with these.”

ANWAR:

“I’ve never been associated. All my years including when I was acting- Prime Minister, I refused to sign any detention without trial. No ISA person was detained under me. Yes, I was part of the system. I had to operate within the limits of the system. But I’ve always been seen, as you’ve seen in the Asian Renaissance, as a person trying to reform from within.”

BBC CORRESPONDENT:

“Do you believe that the present Prime Minister; Abdullah Badawi, knows what’s going on here? Is he the man who gave the order to arrest you to make the allegations?”

ANWAR:

“I don’t believe and I don’t have any evidence to suggest that he ordered or is the crafter of this dirty design. But Abdullah seems to be mostly unaware of what’s happening. He does not seem to be totally in the picture. But we have evidence, to the contrary, that this complainer has been working with Dato’ Najib.”

BBC CORRESPONDENT:

“So where is the Deputy Prime Minister; Najib Razak?”

ANWAR:

“We have evidence to prove that he was in communication with this complainer and his wife was working with the complainer, weeks before the complaint.”

BBC CORRESPONDENT:

“You’re riding a wave of unprecedented popular support here, you and your party of the opposition. Have you ordered people to hold off while you continue to do that?”

ANWAR:

“Yes. For now, my advice to friends and supporters is to restrain yourself because I have reason to believe that the government wants a pretext to embark on huge arrest of party leaders, parliament members and even to have some semi-emergency sort of measures to be in place. So for now, I would go on to the provinces and districts to explain the issues, you know, probably on the contained premises. But there’s no certainty of how much you can contain public anger.”

BBC CORRESPONDENT:

“What has this done for Malaysia’s reputation on the international stage?”

ANWAR:

“I think they’ve managed to destroy whatever semblance of Rule of Law in this country and this is worrying. Whatever happens, even if we take over, it is going to take a lot of hard work to revive the economy and confidence of international investors and the public.”


>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

I got some questions if I may:


http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0719&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Terkini&pg=bt_10.htm

+++Dato’ Syed Hamid, if the compliance of Anwar’s camp to this investigation and their unwillingness to result to public disturbance are evident as he (Anwar) repeatedly stated, which legal part of this ongoing investigation provides you space to have a say?

1- It is not the legal profession of Sivarasa etc. that is meddling with police investigations but instead, the unnecessary commentaries of politicians and over-the-limit police interrogations (as what the Bar Council suggested) that are interfering legal processes.

+++Dato’ Syed Hamid, IF the judiciary and the executive are corrupted to the roots, how would you justify using national state of emergency measures to restrain angry Malaysians? Do you mean to say that all the actions taken against peaceful demonstrators until now, would eventually restore trust in the people, because obviously this is escalating towards unaccountable authoritarian state?

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/19/nation/20080719151737&sec=nationhttp://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/19/nation/20080719151737&sec=nation

+++Dr. Zaininah Mohd Zain, why do you have to deny the fact that Anwar was stripped naked? If it is necessary for the investigation to do so, no one is going to get mad.

1- It takes SOME guts to lie not just to Malaysians but also to international correspondents, about you being stripped naked in the presence of doctors and medical officers (more than reliable eye witnesses). I believe that lying about being stripped naked would not benefit Anwar much but instead would endanger his political career. In the end, there could be only one liar. Remember that.

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0719&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Terkini&pg=bt_14.htm

+++Dato’ Seri Abdullah, would you welcome international NGOs for freedom watch to Malaysia to monitor the legal processes which are going on and support them (if the government really has nothing to fear), because reiterating the non-involvement of the AG and the IGP will really not do?

http://www.bharian.com.my/Current_News/BH/Saturday/BeritaUtama/20080719003120/Article


+++Dato’ Seri Abdullah, would you kindly explain about the supposed fabrication of evidence back in '98 the next time you demand a DNA sample from Anwar?


>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
“veritas et aequitas”

My Tantrum = Your Problem.

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
"Bag that angry kid!"

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/86419

Loh Gwo Burne of Kelana Jaya was assaulted by Mior Azam Shah Mior Yahya during his attempt to ravel out the confusion of 6000 men who opposed the building of a ‘Surau’at Desa Mentari.

Truly, such catatonic act is both non-Islamic and non-democratic.

In this multi-racial country, you should keep your violent aggravation complex to yourself. In the jungle is the place for primitive duels.

Who was immaturely emotional? Who was patient? Who had the biggest laugh?

If Mior Azam is not fit for politics or if he ‘hunts’ limelight, he might as well back off, or else, some more of his actions might stir the already chaotic Malaysia, collectively speaking.

Is it not a lie to vow to maintain integrity and sell it to the voters, only to later, go back on?

Remember your promise of bringing about change.

As we speak of the virtues and ethics Malaysia’s politicians lack, developed nations work hard to push their economic and scientific development ahead. Wonder what happened to the murmurs about developing renewable energy?

I would gladly blame this generation for the incompetence of future Malaysia.

Until then, I’ll just have to graft and graft some more.

I hope I'm not in the same ship as Mior Azam, Bung Mokhtar and Adnan Yaakob.

My two cents.

Untitled.

International observers, including the U.S. State Department, expressed concern about Wednesday's arrest.

"We believe the detention today of prominent Malaysian opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim raises serious questions and concerns," said department spokesman Sean McCormack in a written statement. "We urge Malaysian authorities to resolve this matter in a manner that builds confidence in the impartial rule of law in Malaysia."


Taken from: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/17/anwar.malaysia/

For Real.

http://www.islamicamagazine.com/general/Open-Letter-Concerning-Anwar-Ibrahim.html

Into the Sun and Out.

Suddenly, the light stops,

Within the beacon,

The anguish of light-years torment,

Within the bright flash,

The blinding truth of life entirety,

Within this transition,

The binding regret.

So answer this, once;

Is there room for one more sun?

Ahmad Kamil,
14/07/2008,
auf Kohle.

Support the Sanction.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7503035.stm

Imbalance +1.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/86006

When The Pretzel Crumbles from Within?

"Where's mine?"


Politics is truly about giving, not giving, taking and not taking. Out of all four, giving and taking strike the color of the ruling party best. Why is that so?

Because taking and giving are substantial. Because if something is not being taken or not being given like tax exclusion etc., literally; no change has been made. So it goes; a desperate party will take and give more frequently to appeal to the mass. This is an evil fallacy.

The fact that difference in political views revolves around different ways of seeing things only further complicates this matter.

Let’s list out what the government took, recently:


1----- Leaders of HINDRAF.

Let’s be realistic. These are the main claims of HINDRAF:

1- Commonwealth ethnic Indian peace loving subjects in Malaysia persecuted by government, backed by Islamic extremist violent armed terrorist who launched a pre dawn violent armed attack and destroyed the Kg Jawa Mariaman Hindu temple at 4.00 am this morning (15.11.2007).

2- Appeal for U.K to move emergency U.N resolution condemning ethnic cleansing in Malaysia.

3- Appeal to refer Malaysia to the world court and international criminal court for crimes against its own ethnic minority Indians.

This is an intolerable, high treason. Worst to worst, Malaysia would come next after Syria or Iran, especially during this time when America is showing great interest in ‘safeguarding’ the Strait of Malacca.

And they are calling it a peaceful rally. Hell, I’d buy the rumors that HINDRAFs are gathering weapons to start a revolt, because they think they are being ethnically cleansed. What would you do with such realization?

So, the imprisonment of HINDRAF leaders is more or less a ‘giving’ to the peace loving people, but the maltreatment they receive behind bars is vice versa. All in all, this is a taking because it all escalated from the government turning its back on ethnic Indians, as a whole.

2----- Oil subsidy.

This is neck-breaking to the poor and middle-classites. Price of commodities sky-rocketed and crime rate increased. This taking is most vital of all for through it, the people are being intimidated for not being heard by the government, with some driven into famine.

3----- Jurisdictional rights.

Sure slandering is wrong and unethical, but when a claim has been made in the court of law alleging ‘men of great power’ to have been involved in ‘a murder’, a just investigation should be carried out.
The rule of law, if you will; the popular shout these days from both the government and the opposition. Where is the rule of law in;

1- Having those under investigation still running government departments (AG and CP).

2- Not being able to mention ‘some names’ in the court of law or in a police report.

3- Being induced and intimidated after making a Statutory Declaration.
And best of all, there is no justification whatsoever for all these actions and inactions.

And what the government gave:


1----- 45% increase of scholarship to the non-Bumiputeras through JPA.

With all due respect, I would describe the action of increasing the figure from 5% to 45% as a desperate, unintelligent, superfluous, selfish and far-fetched political attempt to gain more votes, and I’m not blaming the government as a whole. There are figures who are clearly dissatisfied by this decision.

Look at the rehabs, the streets, the villages etc.. Which race forms the majority of addicts, mat rempits, minah rempits and the poor? If the government is to cater for the rich and poor then I’d say; stop depriving the Malays who are really in need, by putting them through ‘premature meritocracy’. Never mind the rich Malays.

Why do we see ourselves as being racist when we talk about Malay agendas? The Indians and Chinese talk about their agendas all the time.

Remember that the greatest identity is the national identity; the identity which Malays gave willingly to the non-Malays as an indication of acceptance, for the Malays and the non-Malays worked hand in hand to bring Malaysia to its present state.

It’s a fair quid pro quo, and it is about time that all of us submit to the greater consensus; the national consensus. If fighting for racial benefits would discourage the ‘Malaysians’ Malaysia’ ideal, so be it: let us all be regarded as one, but until a Malaysian ‘Leitkultur’ is being established and practiced, in which all Malaysians would have to agree to certain values and points, the ideal is out of reach.

2----- 372 SJKT join the ‘fully-funded band’.

In the spirit of Islam Hadhari or Hadharah Islamiah or whatever it is, I see this as an unjust treatment. How about the ‘Sekolah Agama Rakyat’ or the SAR issue? Is it already out of mind? Truly, ‘Melayu mudah lupa’.

I am proud of the fact that I studied at a SAR.

As I recall, the government gave the SARs a binomial choice: to drop the Al-Azhar syllabi or to be financially independent.

Why did the government initially, not fund SJKTs and SJKCs? Because they wouldn’t accept / would partially accept; the syllabi set by the Ministry of Education and to this day, they remain so.

In a way, the SARs, SJKTs and SJKCs share something in common. But you see, the treatment is different.

That’s 2 taken from the Malays, 2 given to the non-Malays and 3 taken from Malaysians. This imbalance, somehow, reminds me of the ‘Koklkhozy’ collective farming program.

‘oderint dum metuant’.