— Paul Victor
The Malaysian Insider
Sep 25, 2011

SEPT 25 — People power knocked some sense into the mind of Prime Minister Najib Razak, forcing him to set up an election reform panel and announce the abolishment of the ISA and other draconian laws.

There is absolutely no way Najib would have considered change if the people behind Bersih had not stuck to their principles and marched on July 9. A regime based on dictatorial principles and feasting on patronage has little time for reform and change unless forced to do so.

It is the same with the mainstream media, and I single out Utusan Malaysia and The Star for dishonourable mention. They will not be fair-minded or truthful or serve the public interest unless forced to do so.

And this is where People Power 2.0 comes in. Think about the many times you have been disgusted with the lies spun by Utusan Malaysia from their now discredited Christian plot to take over Malaysia to their serial lies about the Opposition. Now they are spinning some tale about Lim Guan Eng allegedly making disparaging remarks about Johor. Their own game plan is to try and force the end of the DAP-Pas nexus.

But the Umno mouthpiece is not the only culprit. What about The Star, New Straits Times and other mainstream media? Their writers and columnists do not serve the people who put money in their pockets: the readers.

I read on Malaysia Today that one of The Star’s columnists did an undisguised hatchet job on Mohamed Sabu recently and was left wondering why we put up with this evil stuff anymore.

The paper serves the interests of its owner, the MCA.

After all, People Power has started to hold Najib to a higher responsibility. Why shouldn’t we pressure the mainstream media to do a decent and honest job?

If many of us stop buying these papers, their sales will drop and they will be forced to mend their ways. The gathering of more than 50,000 Malaysians brought Najib down a few notches; can you imagine the fear we can strike into the heart of newspapers if 50,000 people cancel their subscriptions?

A free and honest press is needed in Malaysia. It is our duty to make sure it happens.