I am sorry to have attributed the above to Awang Selamat. If Awang selamat could one day say the above, there will still be hope that Malaysia might not regress further.

Our press as practiced here is 17th century’s in which the press is to be controlled and the function of the press is to support the policies and actions of the state, and its authorities. This is done under banner of fostering social solidarity and national unity. The state asserts the right to control the press for the overall public good. Hence the Printing Press Publications Act (PPPA) requiring licensing and periodic renewal. News business itself is controlled by ruling political parties via affiliates. Editorial staff are appointed with approval of the higher ups in political parties. Hence controlling the press for social solidarity and national unity is, by implementation, translated means to making sure that the press plays propaganda role of improving image of the government and preventing the press from embarrassing it, a necessary result being to repress criticism and protest, and to severely punish any member of press staff for doing breaking these unspoken expectations.

This makes it difficulty for the journalist even if he believes in journalistic ethics. He too needs to make a living, do a good job, rise up in his chosen career make a good living for himself and family. However every Press that he goes to that can provide him opportunities to write and make a decent living, he finds that the only viable opportunities available at the press controlled (directly or indirectly) and manacled by the “State” or parties ruling it. So what to do, choose another career? To carry on in the chosen career and do well he has to play multiple roles, sometimes, “Press Prostitutes” (to rise up the corporate ladder), other times “Media Marionettes” (to get first hand information from ruling politicians) and occasionally “Wise Writers”, when his social conscience pricks him, all the time measuring the mood of the government vis-à-vis the public of the day. So no journalist is all the time in one category exclusive of the other categories, he plays different roles measuring the prevailing mood – and of course what his readers are interested to read.

Talking about who and who has “integrity”, a journalist known to Thomas Lee may personally be a person of character and high integrity but in context of journalistic ethics relating to impartiality, truth-telling, unbiased observation, it is a contradiction in terms in an environment of controlled press. It is possible only if one leaves the profession or join otherwise join the online press like Malaysiakini, not manacled by PPPA or controlled by organizations affiliated to ruling parties.

What a mainstream editor says that the “protest against the high-handed methods of the MACC is a challenge to the Malays” goes beyond the mere skewing of facts and news to serve the government of the day’s interest.

As Kit has ably earlier rebutted, the MACC is a Malaysian institution and one does not call PKFZ less a Malaysian organization merely because it was/is under direction of 3 successive transport ministers who are Chinese.

Our Sedition Act defines seditious as being a tendency to “raise discontent or disaffection amongst subjects of the Yang di Pertuan Agong or amongst inhabitants of Malaysia or any state”.

As the “protest against the high-handed methods of the MACC is a challenge to the Malays” is a provocative and inciting statement unbacked by even facts, Thomas Lee appropriately adopts as heading “The Seditious Press” for his piece above.

Well said. That would be the necessary conditions, but not sufficient to make this oneMalaysia. He should at least work towayds satisfying the necessary conditions befiore yelling 1Malaysia.

It has reached a point where journos in the Umno-controlled papers are now in tune with each other to propogate and defend themselves with racial rhetorics that will justify their being in position of power.

As one commentator put it: ” It is these “covert bigots” who present the biggest challenge to Najib’s efforts to build a united nation and his promise to create a nation of peace and harmony.

What do people like this racist group managing editor of NST and BH care except to use his column to promote his own spin to please his political master whoever he is. This is a person to keep a wary eye on and see how he twists and turns this BH and NST into contemptible rags. I used to buy the NST but no more.

“Why did the Selangor MB, a Malay, question those of his own race to act fairly?” Zainul wrote in BH. And he also touched on the MACC as a Malay-controlled institution.

What this ketuanan melayu smartass wrote, truly reveals himself for what he is – a racist editor with a dark agenda on his mind and belonging to the same league as those operating from Utusan Melayu. Not to mention another one who recently took over the Malay Mail.

Zainul’s racist comment is creating racial disharmony and seditious enough to warrant him to be hauled up for publishing inflamatory articles.

Yes, It’s a crying shame that this man with his blinkered view is in charge of two national newspapers and using them as propaganda machines and spewing dangerous rhetorics. For what purpose?

He should be locked up because he’s a danger to a peaceful and harmonious society. Another Ahmad Said in the making?

I can vouch like you that some are good people of principles but to call them top class journalists is, I think, stretching it a bit. We know them and their work. Chun Wai is the one always starving for some cheap publicity.
Prove me wrong on that.

I know it’s not nice to go on and on about these people as far as professionalism is concerned. So I just leave at that.

Wong Chun Wai is not a man of good principle because he does not practice the principle of avoiding favouritism in performing his job, which is the core principle of the Christianity in relation to work ethics.

Teoh Beng Hock’s Funeral, Vigil and Public Concerns

http://sagaladoola.blogspot.com/2009/07/teoh-beng-hock-funeral-vigil-and-public.html

It is a blessing to Pakatan that Najib and his UMNO government do not realise that the only thing that can really help maintain their their grip on power is abolishment of these instruments and institutions of suppression and exploitation. Being what they are (gangsters in the guise of politicians) and having seen it serving their predecessor well, namely the warp thinking mamak, it is unlikely they will ever reach this level of enlightenment and let go. Even though they have the MACC, police force, senior civil servants, the press, judiciary and perhaps even the royalties in their pocket, they still need to content with the wrath of an entire nation awakened against their exploitation and destruction of the country. I have high regards for the tacticians in Najib’s entourage but their numbers will be considerably outnumbered by mafia style imbeciles who only know raw carnage, self gratification, lust and obsession with the control of others. It will come to no good end for him.

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What can we do ? After the exuberance or euphoria is over, we forget everything and never pursue the matter.