September 30, 2012
Bemused by criticism of Malaysiakini
An Emerging Force in MalaysiaAliran is bemused again. Last week, the focus of attacks was on Suaram. This week, they have turned their attention to Malaysiakini.
In our statement in response last week, we mentioned how foreign interests are affecting the minds and lives of Malaysians, virtually on an everyday basis. We made references to the influence of the English Premier League, BBC and CNN telecasts into millions of households in the region.
More seriously we highlighted how we measure economic growth in terms of, among others, the quantum of FDI. Why, we even want to draw in foreign investors that may be environmentally harmful e.g. Lynas’ rare earth refinery, RAPID in Pengerang, Johor and aluminium smelters in Sarawak!
We also highlighted US support for military exercises involving the Malaysian military via the Office of Defence Cooperation in support of the US Embassy in Malaysia and the US Pacific Command. (We should have also mentioned the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, now in its 12th edition.)
None of the critics of Suaram bothered to respond to these points. Neither did they show us HOW Suaram is undermining democracy by receiving foreign funds.
Now we are told that it is not proper for foreigners to hold directorships or other stakes in local media outfits!But then, we note that a leading “integrated consumer media entertainment group in Malaysia and Southeast Asia with operations in four key areas of business, namely Pay-TV, Radio, Publications and Digital Media” has a non-independent, non-executive director who appears to be a foreigner.
If we are talking about moulding public opinion, why only talk about the media? Why not talk about foreign public relations groups and spin doctors such as APCO which are in the business of shaping public opinion to promote certain leaders and political parties as paragons of virtue especially as elections approach? Is this not trying to influence public perception falsely as certain quarters are now accusing Malaysiakini of?
Since we are talking about moulding minds, what about education? We now have foreign universities invited to establish branch campuses in Malaysia. Often the curriculum is adapted from abroad and taught by foreign lecturers – and in the English Language too!
Then there are the international schools in Malaysia. Quotas or restrictions on Malaysians attending such schools have now been relaxed. Increasingly, these schools now have free access in shaping young and impressionable local minds – an exposure which could be equally dangerous!
If we want to stretch this ridiculous argument, what about the tens of thousands of Malaysian youths who have been sent abroad by the government and their parents to further their studies in Europe, America, South and East Asia, and the Middle East? Wouldn’t they too have imbibed foreign values and ideologies?
The Malaysiakini Pioneers
Much ado has also been made about an Opposition politician’s small stake in Malaysiakini as if that would affect its editorial independence. In that case, what about UMNO’s ownership of Utusan and MCA’s ownership of The Star, Nanyang and China Press? Doesn’t that compromise their independence? Doesn’t that have an even greater impact in undermining media independence?
Instead of making vague insinuations and innuendos, critics of Malaysiakini should give us clear examples of how the foreign presence on its board or foreign funding has resulted in a diabolical foreign agenda creeping into Malaysiakini’s reporting that threatens to undermine democracy.
By the way, Aliran does not receive any foreign funding for any ongoing programmes nor do we have a foreigner sitting on our board of directors. Why, we don’t even have a board of directors! But we won’t make any insinuations against others just because they might have a foreigner on their board. After all, we live in an era of globalisation.
Aliran Executive Committee
29 September 2012
Onslaughts by a nervous and insecure “Big Brother” and its institutions against SUARAM, Malaysiakini, BERSIH and other civil society organisations confirm that civil society is a force for the good of Malaysian democracy, reinforced by the efforts of an alternative media that can deliver timely and accurate information to citizenry.
Malaysians today can no longer be lembued or silenced and this augurs well for the future of our country. Why? Because Malaysians have access to information that enables them to make intelligent decisions.
Our leaders, bureaucrats and corporates must be held accountable for their actions. At the same time, if they have done a good job, we must acknowledge it and urge them on. While we want to hold them accountable, civil society too must be responsible for what they do.
It would be ideal if our leaders, bureaucrats and corporates work together with civil society to build a peaceful and prosperous Malaysia which all can proudly call their home, where citizens have equal opportunity to be the best that they can be, and where our rights as enshrined in our constitution are respected and where Rukun Negara is a living reality.
Bring back the idea of public service and put an end to this culture of impunity. Why is that we have not acted in common purpose? Could it be that we have a national and local political and social leadership deficit? Any comments, guys? –Din Merican
I m truly sickened by this BN/UMNO govt hypocrisy! Yes, all thing Western is bad, corrupted and sinful. Only our Eastern values are good. What a moronic assertion.
Tell u 2 incidents. In April, 2009, Britain top counter terrorist chief resigned from his post? Why so drastic, one may wonder? All because of his carelessness. He was on his way to brief 10 Downing Street of an impending operation. He was walking into the building clutching a report. The press took photos of him. Unfortunately, the content of the report was legible. He took responsibility for his CARELESSNESS and resigned.
Second incident. A few days ago, a fisherman in Newfoundland caught a whopping giant blue fin tuna that would have greatly helped him financially. Guess what? The US Fishery Dept ordered it to be tossed overboard all because
1. He did not have the license to catch the fish
2. It was caught during the off-season for catching tuna. The fisherman accepted his fate without much fuss.
My dear Malaysians, how many of us can hold ourselves to such high standards?
Dato, Allow me to add that according to the news report, recently a 360kg tuna was sold for 400,000 dollars in Japan. This poor Newfoundland fisherman’s catch was much bigger. His loss was estimated to be in the region of half a million dollars. I am truly moved and can’t help but to feel so small with this man’s law abiding stance. In Malaysia, we have one UMNO MP complaining why the Custom Dept cannot close one eye over illegal import of logs from Indonesia. Best part, he said this in our Parliament! Sigh….
“But we won’t make any insinuations against others just because they might have a foreigner on their board. After all, we live in an era of globalisation”
Unless you haven’t noticed we call this right of free speech. Right not to speak is also free speech.
Why the onslaught? The ruling oligarchy is so used to monopolise the media power that intoxicate them into long slumber while the world has moved on. Premier example is how much confindence and support the civil society in supporting democracy in Malaysia as the host commented above. The government witch-hunt them by any means but ignore the blatant treatment of its own media as it mouthpiece. This is hypocrisy at its highest order.
How should the voter respond? I think the battle line is pretty clear in urban constituencies but most rural areas especially in Sabah and Sarawak is anybody’s guess.
So march on alternative media !