July 22, 2010
CNN, bad journalism, and Anwar’s Apology Tour
Following up on my piece a few days back on Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim, CNN International’s Connect the World program featured Anwar this past Friday.
The interview, apparently taped as part of his U.S. apology tour for whipping up anti-Semitism back home, nicely encapsulates everything that’s wrong with Western media coverage of Anwar — and indeed, of problems in journalism at large. This much softball usually involves 18 women, underhand pitching, and the NCAA.
The clip in question is embedded here. Keep in mind, as you watch this, that the entire reason Anwar Ibrahim is making this media appearance is that he’s spent all of 2010 attacking Jews. Count the number of times CNN mentions this:
That’s right: zero. The interview in its entirety mentioned the major news about Anwar Ibrahim exactly zero times. I’ll be blunt: this is what a good rolling of a major media outlet looks like. Whomever Anwar has hired to do his U.S. public relations clearly has solid media contacts, particularly in CNN proper.
The charade doesn’t just extend to omitting Anwar’s excursion into Jew-baiting — it permeates the entire piece, from the narrator declaring that the politician “Fight[s] on no matter what the odds,” to a narrow focus on the martyr-narrative surrounding his sodomy trials, to ludicrous revisionism on the 2008 Malaysian elections.
On the latter, CNN’s narrator intones, “Most believed Ibrahim’s political career was over, but in the 2008 elections, he led Malaysian opposition parties to historic gains.” Of course, inside Malaysia itself, the ‘08 elections were widely regarded as a tremendous failure for Anwar, after he publicly guaranteed he would form a government, and then did not.
(It was also during these elections, the reader must be reminded — as CNN won’t do it — that Anwar told Islam Online that he had “evidence proving that the government is backing the Jewish lobby in the U.S. and some parties inside Israel.”)
To top it all off, CNN’s interviewer spent several minutes lobbing easy hits at Anwar, mostly along the lines of, “Are you in favor of good things, and opposed to bad things?” Does Anwar like racial tolerance? Yes. Is he against corruption? Yes. Is he for a fair judiciary? Yes. Edward Murrow this is not. It’s not even Perez Hilton.
But the interviewer did come within a hair’s breadth of doing his job, and making news, when he asked Anwar whether he supported the dual system of shari’a (Islamic) and civil law in Malaysia, or whether he believed all Malaysians should live under one legal code. The politician’s answer is almost incomprehensible, and worth reprinting in full:
“One must not assume that once we believe in some aspects of the shari’a law to be implemented that it will be adjudicated fairly and justly. Therefore, we must have adequate reforms. Sure, there is just administration of these laws. But the way we draw the line is we — is not to allow in any way that these application of the shari’a laws to either compel or force onto the rights of non-Muslims in Malaysia.”
Well. That doesn’t answer the question. Almost certainly by accident, CNN’s man caught Anwar Ibrahim in a tight spot. Of course he can’t be seen endorsing shari’a law in front of a Western audience. And of course, his major coalition partner, the hard-line Islamist PAS party, won’t countenance anything but exactly that.
The interviewer wasn’t interested in committing journalism, of course, so Anwar wriggled away in a cloud of platitudes. But he won’t always be so lucky.–http://theunspinners.blogspot.com/2010/07/why-joshua-trevino-said-anwar-bought.html
Din Merican: the Malaysian DJ Blogger 
Who cares what Joshua Trevino has to say. He has nothing to lose from UMNO’s dominance of the Malaysian political domain. We Malaysians on the other hand has to live everyday with the bigotry and corruption in this country. The US Federal Government cannot be trusted – Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Cambodia, The Marshall Islands (Bikini Atoll – hydrogen bomb testing zone), Guam, the Native Americans, Alaska, have all been through the promises made by the White Man at their own demise. Screw Joshua, he is just another white man trying to impose their idealism about anti jews, whilst conveniently forgetting about their responsibilities and wrong doings to other people in this world. Joshua has just written off Anwar as no longer a friend of the US. As an intellect and one familiar with the USA, Anwar should know that the people to be least trusted in foreign affairs are the Americans. We dont need the US to tell us what is right or wrong anymore. The Obama administration is just as bad, or even worse, as a child that grew up in Indonesia, one would think that Obama would have some idea about the politics in Malaysia and all the wrongs that the US has never corrected for the people in Vietnam and Cambodia.
I read again and again this article. Let’s argue with facts rather than hating emotionally this article.
Until now, I have found no serious or heavy point to discredit Anwar.
Except for the facts that Anwar apparently failed in his 916 quest. And I believe this will be repeated again and again in the future article. Same as Umno stooges to discredit Anwar.
One needs to remember how many blunders made by Umno in the past 2 years only. Remember when Muhyiddin promised us to bring Hassan Merican for 2nd time in TV just to justify the rising in petrol price in a net exporter country like Malaysia. As a result he was sacked and replaced with a guy of his age. Hassan took the helm of Petronas when he was 40s not 57.
Umno also failed in his bid to court PAS in, and until now they are still using the same tactic. They should learn that one should never reinforce failure. How can you govern a country when you even fail to convince Pas to join you. Pas is a party perceived by Umno led by some orthodox who are easily fooled by them (Umno).
And many other blunders done by Umno for political sake. I view these blunders as similar to Anwar’s 916. Except that Anwar did it once and repent.
Who doesn’t make mistake in life? The important thing is he/she learn from it and never to repeat it again.
On Anwar bashing the Jews for all year long 2010, this is also not a strong point of view or I would say a divergence. The point is the Israeli forces killed few UNARMED people on the ship carrying the food and medical supplies for the Palestinian in the INTERNATIONAL water NOT even on Israeli water.
Even when Teoh Beng Hock died last year for yet to known reason, we expressed our sympathy not because we are his family or close relative but because we believed something is not right. We request for a fully open investigation in the tragedy. If anyone is involved, we need him/her to be brought to justice.
Same goes with the few dead UNARMED people on that ship, we protest, not because we are their family or relative but we are concern, we felt that this is not right. Anwar is a human and we are also human. What we felt must be felt by Anwar and it is normal for him to protest against the killing. We also protest but did not catch media attention.
The different between Anwar and us, is we are nothing, we are not public figure, Anwar is public figure. If defending the innocent killing is wrong, then Mr Trevino must condemn all of us not just Anwar. Bring us all to justice, write a better article condemning us for criticizing, protesting against the innocent killing by the Israeli arm forces.
If Mr Trevino is the President of the USA, I would not do business with him or I would not have a special relationship G-to-G with the USA since the way he writes, he is condoning the innocent killing.
sehingga ke saat ini saya masih tak nampak point yang sangat kuat untuk mengkonfusekan orang ramai
We cannot ignore public opinion at home or abroad. Both Najib and Anwar are doing what needs to be done and that is to engage the media. The worst thing one can do is to ignore them. Trevino is trying to do his job. For whom? I do not know.
James, I recommend that you read Peter Beinart’s The Icarus Syndrome which discusses American hubris in great detail from Wilson to George W. Bush and documents American foreign policy failures.
I agree that we should not go overboard in our relations with the US; at the same time, we cannot ignore American power in international relations. Like them, we should act in our national interest and unlike them, we are a small nation. Our best chance of having some impact on world affairs is to be more active in ASEAN. Through ASEAN we can work with the US, the EU, China, India, Japan and others. For that we need a competent Foreign Minister and an effective and thoroughly professional Wisma Putra.
As Prime Minister, Najib has a slight advantage over Anwar since he represents Malaysia because his coalition, UMNO-BN, is the government. Relations between nations are not based on personal relations between Obama and Najib, for example, because heads of government come and go. For all we know, Obama could be a one term President. Then what happens?–Din Merican
“One must not assume that once we believe in some aspects of the shari’a law to be implemented that it will be adjudicated fairly and justly. Therefore, we must have adequate reforms. Sure, there is just administration of these laws. But the way we draw the line is we — is not to allow in any way that these application of the shari’a laws to either compel or force onto the rights of non-Muslims in Malaysia.”
What the heck is Anwar Ibrahim talking about? What is he thinking? What happened to the gladiator that we often saw adept in the use of the shield to ward off the blows from an interviewer determined not to let him off the hook, and short thrusts from the sword to set him off balance?
And all this in response to a direct question: “Do you support the dual system of shari’a (Islamic) and civil law in Malaysia” and “Do you believe all Malaysians should live under one legal code.”? Both open-ended questions.
Whatever it is that he is smoking, I want some.
Here’s how I would reply if I were Anwar Ibrahim.
There is no ignoring the fact that we are a Muslim majority country with some 60% of Malaysians being Muslims. The remaining 40% are non-Muslims and their rights to practice their religion are guaranteed by the country’s Federal Constitution of 1957.
Being Muslims we have always had sharia law to dispose off matters relating to marriage and divorce and the distribution of family property etc. This is nothing new. The ruling party introduced amendments to the Federal Constitution in 1988 when I was with the government not just to plug the loopholes in the law but to have a better administration of the existing law by introducing a double tracked system of justice parallel to each other i.e. one using civil law based on the English common law and the other sharia law. One is not meant to oust the other. Of course, issues of conversion and re-conversion, of apostasy would have to be heard exclusively by the shariah court and not the civil court. We have decided that the civil courts are not to have jurisdiction over such matters. Otherwise it would be confusing. It is true in recent years how we dealt with issues of Muslim converts wanting to reconvert back to the religion of their birth has been the subject of controversy. I admit we need to deal with such matters in a more humane way because it involves the issue of human rights and under Pakatan my hope is that we would be able to do that.
Right now we are living under one legal code. Our civil law is based on the English common law but unlike the English common law ours is codified drawing heavily from the Indian experience.
Israel lobby is very strong in USA.
Many US politicians are afraid of the Israel lobby.
Looks like the Israel lobby is targetting Anwar Ibrahim
(with assistance from APCO?).
Notice how criticism of Israeli policies is transformed into
anti-semitism?
The Israel lobby is showing signs they are worried about the
growing boycott Israel campaign on American university campuses. Global BDS campaign i.e. boycott, divestment and sanctions.
When I was a foreign student in the USA and took part in American social democratic (“democratic socialist”) movement activities, we had to somehow avoid getting into arguments with our Jewish-American comrades because of their (sadly, blindly pro-Israel) views.
But not all our Jewish comrades were blindly pro-Israel though.
The reality is that the Israeli Right is running the country at the moment. In other words, the Jabotinsky and Irgun wings of the
early Zionist movement have come to dominate the country.
Menachem Begin was from the Irgun.
The progressive left in Israel (“land for peace” movement) is weak.
Here’s something from wikipedia on Mapam, Meretz etc:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meretz-Yachad
Mr Bean, either you start writing his speeches or you go home and start advising him of course right there with Din. The man is confused ,can’t (pronounced the American way okay!) you tell? The court case is weighing heavily on his mind, the prospect of jail time, for good maybe. Who knows what goes on in Malaysia. Tyranny. Either that or he is smoking something!
Josh Trevino is a veteran hack and hatchetman-for-hire. Well done, Apco, you’re definitely earning your keep. Jeez, these non-semitic pseudo-Jewish spin-doctors are as tenacious as pit bulls. Incredible levels of psychic toxins in their bloodlines. Indicates they are latter-day descendants of the evil Amen priesthood!
My friends, no one in America has every heard of Josh Trevino, and I do not understand why Din put this article from an unknown nothing on his website. Sorry Din, but that is the way I feel.
But do the people of America, Malaysia, and the world know who Al Gore is? Of course they do. He was the Vice President of the United States. And he ran for President in 2000.
So let’s ignore what Josh Trevino has to say — after all, who is he??? And let’s hear what Al Gore has to say —
After all, Al won the Nobel Peace Prize —
And Al won an Academy Award —
And here is what Al Gore had to say:
“Anwar Ibrahim is one of the most enlightened and visionary political leaders in Asia, and yesterday former U.S. Ambassador John Malott argued persuasively that the US should stand with Anwar Ibrahim. I could not agree more.”
Josh Trevino — whoever you are — can you top this?
Dear Ambassador Malott
I certainly hope the Obama Administration will not sell arms or other tools of repression (such as tear gas) to the present
regime in Malaysia. Also, no training of Malaysian military personnel (who may be used in the future for repression).
If the American govt supports the forces of democracy and reform in Malaysia, ties between a future PR government and the USA will be good. At the very least, the US govt should be neutral and not give any support to the present regime.
Dear Encik Din
Ambassador Malott is right.
More advisable to post articles from influential publications such as “Foreign Policy”. Here’s a good article:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/06/21/the_worst_of_the_worst
May I take the liberty of posting one more comment:
In the Foreign Policy article on the worst of the worst dictators and abusers of political power, one (two?) obvious candidate is
Dick Cheney (and George W. Bush).
But maybe they are not listed because they are no longer in power??
Kudos Josh Trevino. You capture the essence of Anwar ibrahim.
Squeaking like a mouse. Should have asked what he will do if he becomes PM. IF EVER.
Luckily Trevino didnt ask him about NEM?.
Evasive answers to please viewers.
if he really pays for this initerview, it was really wasteful.
Now Americans know who really is Anwar Ibrahim.
Just a Malay Studies B.A. holder who has got so much hyped.
Most times like Good Year blimp.
Bean, I am impessed with your replies. You should be leadimg PKR.
I may change my allegiance from UMNO.
Happy 57 Mr Prime Minister.
May my Chinese friends love you as much as you love them.
We will always love you, though numerous times you flip-flopped.
No worries from your fixed deposit voters.
Cheers to IMalaysia.
Sayang, it’s time for the mosque.
Precisely, the Chinapek ‘love’ you in equal measure and that is your real problem. Also be informed that your fixed deposit is no longer making profit and the fruit has withered, look after Felda and Petronas.
Protofascism in the USA:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/07/22-1
Protofascism in Malaysia?
Perkasa!
Well and done to have international recognition. However it is the Malaysian public perception that need to working. Fortunately there is the internet but how about the rural folks are are stuck with old media cause it finally lies with the voters that will decide which perception they like the most or hate.
Menyalaker,
Sayang bangsa does not pray in the mosque, he prays at Batu Caves. ( due respect to my Indian friends )
He told us his father took Whisky with his anglophiles. So like father like son, he must be taking ‘toddy’.
You think he is a Muslim ?
A muslim does not think and behave like him.
Like I have always said, Ambassador Malott.
Anwar Ibrahim, warts and all, is Malaysia’s best shot at democracy – perhaps not the liberal form of western democracy as practiced in the United States. Malaysia’s experiment at democracy so far has not taken her beyond form and into substance. We have the trimmings of democracy and not the substance to make it work. We have a bicameral legislature with an upper and a lower house – the upper house, the Senate never really becoming what it is meant to be i.e. a check and balance on the excesses of the executive. In United States we have a clear separation of powers. The U.S. President does not sit in the U.S.. Congress, is not allowed to set foot in the Capitol and only addresses the U.S. Congress by invitation. Not so under the Parliamentary system of government. In Malaysia, it is a case of overlapping powers.
Until recently the ruling party UMNO has the required two-thirds majority in Parliament to steam roll legislation at break neck speed so as to deny the opposition of ever having a meaningful discussion. The King, being the country’s constitutional ruler is given thirty days to affix his seal on any bill that gets passed by Parliament. If he fails to do so it becomes law anyway after the thirty days.
The country’s constitution never intended to allow for this much power to reside in the hands of any one man – the country’s Prime Minister in this case. If you examine our Constitution the Prime Minister’s de facto powers are far in excess of those given to him by the country’s Constitution.
Article 3 of the country’s constitution merely states that Islam is the religion of the federation. It never even uses the word ‘official’. Certainly not ‘state’ because that would raise the constitutional position of Islam to another level – to the level of that of nation states like Pakistan. Unfortunately and through the fertile imagination of one prime minister who in wanting to boost grass roots support for his policies, declared that Malaysia has always been an Islamic state. By doing so he gave the country’s constitution a massive dose of steroids from which it has never recovered – and never will in my estimation.
It is Mahathir’s government that introduced in 1988 an amendment – the controversial Article 121(1A) – to the federal constitution creating for the first time a double tracked system of justice. For the first time non-Malays and non-Muslims in Malaysia are put in fear and are made to ask themselves if this is not the beginning of the process of Islamization that would see the gradual but certain erosion of their constitutional rights. So far they have not been proven wrong.
Let us not forget, Anwar was part of that same government that passed the controversial Article 121(1A).
PAS now a member of his political coalition wants Anwar to remember his role. DAP wants to forget it – at least for now.
Dear samsaimon(5:44pm),
Why do you have to spoil my digestion?
Sayang is not a troll in the usual sense of the word.
He is a she, as the language and maternal inflections will show. She really does believe what she’s saying, albeit BTN’ed and all that. That’s her freedom and her ‘religion’, if you know what i mean..
Being blind does not in anyway make one less ‘human’. All the have to do is to read braille and use a white walking stick as a crutch. In some of these cases, the ‘blindness’ is not physical – it’s deeply psychological, sort of a hysteria or fugue state (neuroses, medically). This is not psychotic in a legal sense – ask Bean.., when he’s not preoccupied with the conversation with Amb. Mallot.
As for the apparently anti-Semitic remarks that Anwar Ibrahim has been accused of, it is an aberration in the public image of this man.
He is paying the price for it. In a world as wired as it is by the internet, it is folly to think that one could keep the audiences separate. ‘For domestic consumption only’ is a anachronistic concept – a tool no longer available to the politician today and should be taken out of the tool bag of politicians like Anwar Ibrahim lest they hurt themselves with it. It certainly did with Anwar Ibrahim.
Having said that all Malays, being religious conservatives for the most part of it, almost without exception are anti-Semitic in their trait. The difference between Anwar Ibrahim and Din Merican is that Din has never seen it fit to verbalize it in public under any circumstances – at least to my knowledge. It is just unacceptable among right thinking professionals and the western educated. But that does not mean such feelings don’t exist. In many cases it exists like sleeper cells.
An advice albeit unsolicited that has never left me since my childhood days growing up in Malaysia is never to trust a Jew because a Jew would slit your throat while you are asleep. Of course, I never could understand that. Never asked why. Why would anybody want to slit a seven year old’s throat returning home from the koran school behind Wat Siam??
_________
Mongkut Bean, I was told nasty stories about orang yahudi (jew) when I was growing up in Alor Setaq in the 1950s. The negative image of jews remains with me over the years. But when I went to study in the US at GWU, some of my close friends were jews; they were intelligent, hard working and tough. They earned my highest regard. I no longer think that they will slit my throat when I am asleep. BTW, what is anti-Semitic? Arabs too are semites.–Din Merican
Menyalak-er
Thanks I owe you one. I was about to reply to samsaimon along the same lines. Great minds think alike, I guess. If you want to know more about me, ask Mr Bean. He was my boss in New York, light years ago. I just finished high school in the US then.
samsaimon,
There you guys go castigating the Mufti of Perak. And here goes samsaimon, the fake Mufti, passing fatwa on my religion and my morality. Please read Din’s latest posting on moral judgement. It fits you well, dude. BTW, can I borrow the book I am Muslim too by your idol Zaid. I got a complimentary copy but I gave it to someone who needs it more.
Got to check out whether I am a Muslim.
Menyalak-er,
Sorry, no offence intended. Yes, he is a she coming to Din’s Blog in many faces I think, from before.
Sayang bangsa,
You claim to have great minds ? You are not in the same league as Menyalak-er and the rest!! You are just a ‘twat’.
No problem sam.
Read the message carefully and understand what i don’t outwardly say.
Menyalak-er,
Thanks, I read between the lines and understood.