UMNO man takes Chinese dailies to task

UMNO man takes Chinese dailies to task

TEBRAU Umno division chief Maulizan Bujang says over-sensationalising of internal security problems by the Chinese press has turned them into racial issues.

He urged the government to close down Chinese dailies which are “irresponsible” in their reports, China Press reported yesterday.

Firstly, I truly doubt that the reports can be considered sensational. The reports are definitely reflective of the actual rising crime cases in the country. Nobody wants to exaggerate the truth just to get publicity. The media has the responsibility to report facts instead of bowing to the government propaganda machinery. Moreover, crime affects all residents of this country. So how can this UMNO man claim that the reports are racist in nature? Unless of course, UMNO is taking a racist slant at the entire issue. So we don't like something, we shut it down. This is typical UMNO-style at work.

Maulizan, who is Tiram assemblyman, drew loud applause when he said this in his address in the division’s delegates’ meeting on Sunday.

I'm appalled that there can be people actually clapping for this guy!

He said although the Malays in the area have given Umno their full support, the division felt the support from the Chinese community had declined, and economic and public security issues were among the main reasons.

Look, if you divide your political parties into racist components, for sure you will only receive support from one particular ethnicity. How do you expect ethnic Chinese to support politicians who threaten to bathe the kris in Chinese blood? How do you expect ethnic Indians to support politicians who threaten to demolish Hindu temples and "don't test our patience" type of statements? DUH!

“As an Umno leader, I regret the way the Chinese press has reported on the security issues, to the point that people’s problems look as if they are racial problems. This shows the irresponsible attitude of the Chinese press,” he said.

How exactly have the press been irresponsible? The irresponsible thing to do would have been to keep quiet, and paint a rosy picture of Johor being the ideal place to live in, despite the rampant criminal activities that threaten the safety and well-being of all residents!

He said the security issue culminated in a group of protesters gathering outside the official residence of the Johor Mentri Besar recently to hand over a memorandum to him to protest a gangrape and robbery case in Johor in which the victims were Chinese.

He said the police had already arrested a suspect who happens to be a Malay.

In view of this, Maulizan hoped the government can rein in the Chinese press and advise them “not to play with fire”.

I hear this phrase "don't play with fire" so many times from UMNO. I mean, don't they have a wider vocabulary to select from?

“I hope the government will take stern action against irresponsible Chinese dailies, close them down,” he said.

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TV ads must reflect Malaysian culture

TV ads must reflect Malaysian culture
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/6/nation/18226957&sec=nation

KUALA LUMPUR: All television commercials must have at least 70% local content to reflect Malaysian culture and lifestyles under a new policy to be implemented soon.

Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the Cabinet had decided on Wednesday that at least 70% of these commercials must be made in Malaysia and feature local actors and shot in locations within the country.

He said the same percentage would be required for post-production of the commercials and for the usage of equipment and facilities available.

The minister said the present development of commercials was “unhealthy” with some television commercials being 100% produced abroad before being broadcast in Malaysia.

So we are not only propagating protectionist elements in our economy and industry, but also in advertising? Tell me, dear minister, how "unhealthy" can it be to trade some advertisements? The reason why advertisements made overseas tend to be shown is because that they are of higher standards and quality compared to locally made commercials that are dumbed down.

“Many of these commercials feature Caucasians and do not reflect the real situation of Malaysia and there would be culture problems,” he told a press conference after attending the “Nurturing National Warriors 2007” programme here yesterday.

What culture problems, pray tell? Please elaborate!

He said the advertising industry, including billboards, contributed RM4.7bil per year to the country’s economy.

“However, more than 80% of the television commercials being shown in this country do not meet the above specifications and this has caused the country to lose sources of income, work opportunities and professionals in the industry.”

So instead of encouraging more local content, the ministry forces it upon the advertising industry.

On whether the policy was a discrimination against people with Pan Asia features, Dr Rais said the ministry was not concerned with the looks of the actors involved in these commercials but would instead look at whether they were Malaysians.

“We will not monitor these commercials based on the actors’ appearances but based on the source and origin of these advertisements,” he said, adding a similar paper would be drafted soon to monitor billboard advertisements.

Flip flop of earlier decision?

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Dewan Rakyat :‘No policy to bar opposition speeches’

Dewan Rakyat :‘No policy to bar opposition speeches’
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/National/20070704082235/Article/index_html

THE Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been ordered to withdraw its letter barring private television stations from broadcasting speeches by members of the opposition.

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said he had written to the MCMC yesterday, asking them to immediately withdraw the order.

"It is not our policy to ask it to stop television stations from airing the opposition’s speeches.

"I was a bit slow in responding to this as I was overseas," he said in the parliament lobby.

Jeng jeng jeng! The hero from Barisan has saved the day from madness. Long live Barisan Nasional :P

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Mainstream media still best channel, says Najib

Mainstream media still best channel, says Najib
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/3/nation/18200206&sec=nation

KUALA LUMPUR: The mainstream media is still the best channel for the Government to relay information and messages, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

Yawn. The MSM is controlled by the government political parties. Of course it's the best channel for the government to spread their propaganda.

He said that the mainstream media's role, however, had become more challenging with the emergence of alternative media through the Internet.

“The alternative media via blogsites report many things that can be disputed because nobody knows the person behind the news.

Not all blogs are anonymously authored. Take for example this one. I plainly state my name for all to see and examine. Jeff Ooi also does the same. So does A Kadir Jasin and M Bakri Musa and many other bloggers. And many more blogs are anonymous because the authors fear the government's crackdown on whistleblowers who release information that is potentially harmful to the government's reputation.

“This is where the mainstream media is special,” he said at the Defence Media Awards Night here yesterday.

Special indeed. The MSM is directly controlled and regulated by the government to block all unsavoury news such as the recent MCMC directive to blackout all opposition speeches.

Najib, who is also Defence Minister, said the media could disseminate information on the importance of national security and defence to the people especially when the awareness on security issues was low.

He said that to face the competition with the alternative media, the mainstream media has to provide coverage based on facts.

Hmm... does that mean that the MSM has all this while been printing fiction and lies? Gosh, what a statement from the minister!

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Move to inculcate reading habit

Move to inculcate reading habit
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/National/20070629083515/Article/index_html

GEORGE TOWN, Fri:

The state government will embark on a reading campaign soon to encourage public participation in reading activities.

State Education Committee chairman Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon said about 80 per cent of people read newspapers but more should spend time reading other sources of information, including novels, magazines and journals.

He said this when launching KDU College Penang’s Literary Day here yesterday.

The event was organised in conjunction with the National Reading Month.

I think that this effort has noble intentions. However, I doubt it will take flight for the following reasons: government arbitrarily banning publications from being distributed in the country; persecuting any author who writes in contrary to official government propaganda; political control of local MSM and denying publication license to alternative news providers; and of course our beloved trio of repressive laws: Printing Presses & Publications Act, Internal Security Act, Sedition Act.

So this is just another BLA BLA BLA!

ABDULLAH: Media has helped govt immensely in nation-building

ABDULLAH: Media has helped govt immensely in nation-building
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/NewsBreak/20070628134035/Article/index_html

KUALA LUMPUR, THURS:

The Malaysian media has been responsible in their reports particularly in helping the government maintain peace and harmony among multiracial Malaysians, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today.

Without the sense of responsibility by the media, especially among the editors, journalists and media owners, the peace and racial unity enjoyed by the nation today would not have been possible, he said.

I'm not surprised by the editors', journalists' and media owners' "responsibility", or shall we call it "compliance". After all, their annual publishing license depends arbitrarily on the government's discretion. Self censorship is so prevalent, so much so that they couldn't even report on the PM's recent wedding without the instructions from the government!

He said history had proven the media had helped the government immensely to create a stable environment through their responsible reports, taking into account the sensitivities of the country’s plural society.

“Without the cooperation and understanding between the government and media practitioners surely the country will not have progressed to what it has achieved today,” he said when opening the 2007 Mass Media Conference organised by the Internal Security Ministry.

Abdullah, who is also Internal Security Minister, said looking back at history, it was clear that the Malaysian media had played a pivotal role in helping the government boost patriotism spirit, forge racial unity and self-esteem especially when the country was facing challenges, problems and crises.

So why not grant Malaysiakini a printing license? Why not grant party publications such as The Rocket permission to be distributed to the general public?

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