Najib gives a thumbs up to Utusan Malaysia
September 18, 2009
Najib praises Utusan Malaysia for its ethical and unbiased reporting
By Asrul Hadi Abdullah SaniThe Prime Minister hailed the UMNO-owned Utusan Malaysia today for its ethical and unbiased reporting.
The UMNO president also praised Utusan for being the voice of the people, especially the Malay community.
“Utusan is known for its trademark and its trademark is to voice the desire of the people, especially the Malay community,” he said in his speech during a breaking of fast function at Sri Utusan Printing Complex here.
However, Datuk Seri Najib Razak warned that the media must not only report ethically but also responsibly.
“I hope that we will not only voice the rights of only the Malay community but for the other races as well. When we want to defend rights (of a community), we must also discuss about responsibility,” he said.
He also urged the media to play an important role to shape the nation into 1 Malaysia.
“Media has the responsibility to help in the journey traveled by Malaysia.
The journey which seeks common understanding, openness in thinking. The journey which will also test our struggle.
“If in this journey, we bring chaos and sentiments without looking at the bigger perspective then the journey will go through many difficulties,” he said.
The government aims to engage more with the media because “the era of government knows everything is over.”
“We will interact with the press so that the press will understand the thinking of the government and the direction the government is taking.
“The press will play its part in building a Malaysia which is more prosperous,” he said.
Utusan Malaysia has been criticised for being used to attack the opposition and ratcheting up racial tensions.
The UMNO-owned newspaper was also responsible for running daily stories criticising calls to allow former communist leader Chin Peng to return to Malaysia, linking it to what the newspaper says are moves to question Malay rights.
The paper also suggested that DAP is anti-Islam and said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was willing to betray the Malays to be prime minister — both incendiary subjects in mainly Malay Muslim Malaysia.
A load of poppycock & nonsense
Brian - September 18, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Well, this is the true najib that turn into najis playing with his favorite toy name, utusan. This shows najis slogan 1Malaysia, people first, performance now meant nothing. A real and stupid pm we have.
_________
Richard, nice to meet you at Haris Ibrahim’s Saya Anak Malaysia function. Keep up the good work and stay in touch.–Din Merican
Richard Loh - September 18, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Najib is insulting the intelligence of many Malaysians
If Utusan is as good as Najib claims, how the hell happen that Utusan apologise to the Lawyer Rosli?
What about the stupid cerpen on Josephine a.k.a. U No Hu?
I cannot see any political advantage for Najib to praise Utusan. Just keep quiet and let the barking insult to journalism to project its arrogance and stupidity. By openly siding with the mouth piece, Najib has destroyed any room to distance himself from the next controversy and ruckus kicked up by this abomination of a news paper.
Oh before I forget, isn’t this the newspaper which senior reporter deem “ultra vires” as “to insult”?
lee wee tak - September 18, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Typically Umno – arrogant and always in a state of denial.
Tok Cik - September 18, 2009 at 11:43 pm
And the sad, sad thing is that the folks at the paper will really, really believe what he said. And think they are God’s gift to Malaysian journalism. Some awards may be in the offing.
The paper runs stuff for school PMR and SPM kids giving sample test questions and answers in its ADAB section. There were so many glaring mistakes and silly answers –basic grammar, mathematical and science errors — I felt constrained to write in to the editors pointing out the errors and how, on the basis of their answers, a child would have failed the exam even if he or she had answered correctly.
I wrote that in matters such as this which have a tremendous bearing on our school kids especially since the paper is distributed to many schools, we should all aim for zero defects if we are to promote a culture of excellence in education. (Those weighty words are actually borrowed from our politicians’ lexicons and parroted by newspapers such as this.)
Alas, but not unexpectedly, the silence on their side was deafening. Not a response till today.
And now our glorious PM happily endorses such mediocrity further lowering the bar to turd world standards.
Mr Bojangles - September 18, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Now we know who the real Goebbels is in Malaysia and why Utusan is on a roll and untouched for all its ITT racism and bigotry. Not to mention who is really behind the persecution of Malaysiakini and M2day. Ya wohl mein feuhrer! Seig Heil!
dpp
We are all of 1 race, the Human Race.
donplaypuks - September 18, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Dear Leader is using old rusty tool to make something new. Never works and all we get is another useless anachronistic piece of divisive propaganda garbage.
Utusan is way below mediocrity, its ideas are expounded by unthinking automata who will never bite the hand that feeds them, and morality and ethical precepts are alien to their full bellies. Their sensational news headlines is about “supremacy” at all levels, with barely a sniff of concession to the marginalized and poor. It spreads paranoia like a communicable physical disease.
Yes dpp, it’s a fascist newsletter, not a genuine pc of journalism.
Menyalak-er - September 19, 2009 at 1:27 am
Our dear Leader lacks political judgment. Utusan Malaysia will be more racist now, having received his endorsement of their kind of journalism, which is crass and myopic. What 1Malaysia is Najib talking about? –Din Merican
dinobeano - September 19, 2009 at 5:08 am
Joke of the year…..!
Sn0w - September 19, 2009 at 8:43 am
hmmm … 1malaysia and utusan malaysia ? i can only imagine the acrimony that will be taking place in the BED THEY SHARE !!! Well ok .. we can appoint dr. mahathir as the referee . Did not know NAJIB MOONLIGHTS AS A COURT JESTER TOO.
karena - September 19, 2009 at 9:36 am
By praising Utusan, Najib is condoning their racist’s action and comments. This is unbecoming of a supposedly national leader who profess to national unity and his 1Malaysia concept and supposedly a leader for all Malaysian.
This shows the whole nation and the world the shallowness of his 1Malaysia and Najib is not sincere and committed to what he holds. The Malay saying ” Bikin tak serupa dengan cakap ” rings very true and he pays lip service in order to gain their votes only.
This action demonstrates that what UMNO tells a section of Malaysian society is different from what he deals with the rest. More like a divide and rule. We do not need such a party and leader.
You cannot buy the rakyat’s heart by donating money for their cultural and religious activities alone in which BN is famed for like donating 1 miilion for a Tamil school and another for the Indian cultural foundation. You need to show in actions and words what you want for all Malaysians all the time and not in time of by-elections or General Elections only.
The rakyat is more intelligent than that and please be reminded we are in the 21st century and not in the 50′s or 60′s.
Malaysians must be wary of such leader and party.
FY - September 19, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Najib should not entertain Utusan Malaysia. He should not be seen to associate with Utusan lest he is not afraid of people opinionand judgment of him as the prime minister of 1Malaysia.
Why would someone like Najib want to be seen with Utusan Malaysia knowing very well of Utusan’s mode and mores of journalism. What a faux de pass it was.
Din
Din - September 19, 2009 at 6:20 pm
“Utusan Malaysia speaks for the people of Malaysia” – says the PM. In other words, he endorses all the fanning of the racist flames by Utusan Malaysia? This is disgusting! Expect the paper to be more gung-ho and aggressive in their racist agenda….
BreenBug - September 19, 2009 at 11:29 pm