Press Freedom/ 新闻自由

Image taken from Google images.

I am not so naïve to believe that there is absolute press freedom, more so in a multiracial country, where restrain by the press is essential to maintain harmony.

Off late, I have received a lot of comments by people that a leading English newspaper has been giving a lot of space including picture opportunity to some leaders of MCA.

There are days when a particular leader occupies 2 to 3 pages of the newspaper.

Comments made by this particular leader are almost the same, which is “always very sensitive about the needs of the rakyat”. This is good if it is true and not just a political rhetoric.

A lot of people also commented that there is total blackout about me in the same newspaper. My reply was I am not surprised.

I have been travelling and officiating a number of functions and make pertinent comments about current events. To be fair, so far the Chinese press carried my news; but there is none in this particular newspaper.

To the English speaking MCA members, I am probably sleeping since they don’t read about me at all for the last 1½ month.

However, I told them if there is any adverse publicity about me, be sure it will be headline in this particular paper.

Papers have to be reliable and credible. The readers are discerning to fathom this. Only the editorials have loss touch with the people. Yet, these same paper editorials tell politicians not to loss touch with the rakyat.

This same newspaper in its leading comment about Najib adopt people first leadership style – said, “Leaders would always want to hear only good news but they could come from people with personal interest”.

Newspaper should present 2 sides to a coin.

If it only serves to trumpet a selected few and taking readers for granted, then the newspaper must be in denial.

Meanwhile, more and more readers are aware of the happenings in the editorial staffs of this particular newspaper. Good luck to them.

我从不天真地相信，世界上有绝对的新闻自由，更何况在一个多元种族国家，约束新闻自由是维持和谐的基本线。

近来，许多人向我投诉，国内一家畅销的英文报章，对一些马华领袖特别慷慨，拨用许多新闻和图片版位让他们曝光。

有些时候，特定领袖的新闻甚至占了2至3版，其言论几乎都大同小异，不外是“时刻对人民的需求敏感”。若是发自内心而非一贯的政治语言，这样当然很好。

不少人同时认为，这份报章也已全面封锁我的新闻。对此，我并不惊讶。

当选以来，我走访各州主持许多活动，也针对时局发表过许多中肯的言论。说句公道话，截至目前，除了这份英文报以外，中文报章都有刊登报道。

受英文教育的马华同志因为我在报章上消声匿迹，还以为我在过去一个月半都在冬眠。

不过，我告诉他们，若有不利于我的新闻，必将成为有关报章的重点报道甚至头条新闻。

报章的信息应该是可靠和可信的。读者也了解这一点，也能识辨真伪。同样的报章叮嘱政治人物不能与人民脱节，自己反而和读者脱节了。

该报章曾在一篇“纳吉继承以民为先的领导风格”的社论中提到：“领袖通常只喜欢听好话，但说话的人可能心存私心。”

报章的报道必须呈两面，不能以偏概全。如果它只为某些人吹擂，而视读者于无物，这样的报章应该被唾弃。

越来越多读者察觉到该份报章的人事的变化。祝他们好运吧。