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Thursday, February 12, 2009

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。

15 comments:

ylcw said...

If you are talking about the paper with certain people "thrown" out, and certain people "put" in by OTK, then you are right.

Anyway, who believes what is written in the press nowadays. NST, The Star, UM, whatever - all BN-controlled. Either read Sin Chew or go online to keep uptodate.

ylcw

Anonymous said...

Dr Chua,
You are right. I am very bored of seeing OTK in The Star. Before it was OKT.
I've mentioned in some blogs that these fellas have high face recognition already, give other ppl a chance. It makes MCA look like a two or three man organisation with lots of "care leh feh" (extras) posing in pictures.
In a leading commentary, an editor also postulated that he is bringing "public opinion" to Najib. I think he must be either deranged or misguided. The people with the people's mandate are the elected representatives. Others who pretend to be the voice of the people or public opinion are just that, pretenders. Yet, sometimes the elected PEOPLE's representatives also lose touch with the ground and start promoting their own agenda.

Vesu said...

DS. WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE CONTEST - THE ANSWER IS THE STAR DAILY . ITS THE UTUSAN OF ENGLISH VERSION.

ITS ALL ABOUT YOUR PRESIDENT ONLY. NEVERMIND PRINT MEDIA WILL SOON DIE A NATURAL DEATH IF IF IF THEY DONT CHANGE

春天 said...

It is unfair for that particular English newspaper to do so.

But if the bosses are asking the subordinates to do things accordingly, I doubt they are able to against the order.

Boycott that newspaper !

Unknown said...

Dr,
ur MCA president OTK not only din respect press freedom, he oso din respect bloggers freedom of expression in his blog !

many bloggers that hv been critical on OTK were 'ban' fr commenting on his blog by time & time again changing the bloggers password without notice !

Shame on OTK & his supporting running dogs! but OTK name them 'watch-dogs' to help his mission to 'korek korek korek'
hahaha....

Ted Torrence said...

96% Wanted Fresh Poll In Perak

Ir. Dr. K.C. Ng said...

There 3 sides to a coin.

KIMHO8 said...

You have to accept that you are no longer relevant lah!!!

呉 和豪 said...

To YB Dato Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek

I dedicate the following to Dato Seri and hope Dato will keep moving on the right tracks for the benifits of rakyat

Unbeaten by rain
, by wind
Neither by the snow nor the summer heat
Having a healthy body
Freed from greed
Never getting angry
Always smiling quietly

Doing things
Without calculating selfish ego
Seeing, asking, and understanding things well
not forgetting

please also listen to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OIOaF5AOV4

Rakan Pakatan Rakyat said...

ylcw,You are wrong.
None of the papers are reliable now including SC. Remember this SC paper was doing exactly the same given so much coverage and photo space to particular mca leader(s) before that leader stepped down?

My suggest is read all: papers and alternative media and evealuate yourself. Every media has their own agenda.

KIMHO8 said...

The Beban Negara style lah!
If you are the stumbling block, a hindrance, a barricade which has clog their evil duty. They will use their evil power to destroy you and hollow you. Good luck anyway!

KIMHO8 said...

Dr Chua,

I will never side you as long as you still maintain in MCA.

But, I feel disgusted with those still thinking that they can use the DVD to destroy a person by humiliation again and again.
Because you are not commit homicide as other(Poo Master to-be).

What I can tell those hypocrites is their act is so childish and stupid. Come on, be gentlemen and fight like a man!

GentleMan said...

Dr. Chua,
小弟 在 今日 星州日报
国内 第 13 版 内 看到
有关 你对霹雳州行政议会
新委任的名单 发表不满。
令 霹雳州马华基层极为赞赏。
你的反应迅速,回应很快
及勇敢发表我们的心声。
这才是我们要的领袖。。。
DR。 CHUA , We Support You .
You Are A Good Leader.
You Dare To Speak For MCA member
and Chinese Community.

Unknown said...

Dr, Chua,

I can see there are efforts to blackout you from the local media. I also heard that recent re-orginization of The Star top management is to allow the control of current MCA "main stream" leadership.

But need not worry, we are living in the IT era, we still have alternative media such as Melaysiakini, Merdekareview and also your own blog. You can still interact with the public.
Hope you can still voice out your view. So long as you continue to come out with constructive view, people will support you. Good luck.

vwvg1890 said...

Dear Sir,
As to why ppl won't vote for MCA, UMNO or any BN parties.

Ppl like us r fed up.
a) government service sucks because priority given to their member and we the good tax payers have to what wait for six hours in the so called Kastam; hospital actually all government offices

b) so government offices r run in such a way, don't piss any of (family member; friends and etc.) the staffs. personal matter brought to office. Can't differenciate personal matter can never be mix.

c) their member of the so called Municipal Council has no licence can operate but we can't because non member

d) why spend so much money carelessly?

e) benefits that never really reach the ppl who deserve it. e.g. schorlaship. So how?

f) election time put on a show?

g) government offices all not consistent in the procedure so how can we the public know. the ever changing 1 day "a" next day "b". What happen to the codes, rules, tariff writen black n white. rules r meant to be broken?

h) we don't want to see street protest. we r not hooligans. who dare to visit our country? Businessmen like us got nothing but loses and who to bare?

and etc.

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