ISA & Ahmad Ismail Press Statements - Ignored and 'Buried'

Once again, I would like to highlight the unfair and unprofessional actions of the press. On the 13th of September 2008, Dato' Chua issued a press statement to all the major mainstream media plus a few alternative media.

This press statement was duly ignored and as a result some opinion makers both here in blogosphere as well as the public have a wrong perception on the stand of Dato' Chua on many issues.

Thus I would like to present a press release by Dato' Chua that reflects his stance on the ISA and its recent application.

PRESS STATEMENT BY DATO’ CHUA JUI MENG ON THE ISA ARRESTS
13TH SEPTEMBER 2008

I am alarmed at the news of the arrest of YB Teresa Kok, Sin Chew journalist Tan Hoon Cheng and Raja Petra Kamarudin.

Certain sections of the Government still fail to grasp the new political scenario that has been unveiling itself since 8th March 2008. With these actions they further alienate the electorate and cause unease amongst the governing coalition.

I am especially dismayed at Tan Hoon Cheng’s arrest since she so recently did the nation a favour by exposing racism. Did not the Deputy Prime Minister, who was at the scene at the time apologise for Ahmad Ismail’s statement? Hasn’t UMNO also expressed its opposition to racism by meting out a 3-year suspension to Ahmad Ismail?

Why then is this poor 23-year old girl being detained under the most draconian of laws in Malaysia where she cannot even claim trial? It is blatant discrimination that the man who made seditious statements still walks free while the person who reported him is disproportionately and inappropriately punished.

Rather than closing an embarrassing chapter we have now exacerbated the situation.

The rationale of arresting a sitting Member of Parliament under the ISA must also be explained swiftly by the Prime Minister if he wishes to retain the confidence of the rakyat and that of a nervous and anxious Parliament.

I also note the flip-flop in regards to the restoration of the Malaysia Today website and the subsequent arrest of its editor Raja Petra Kamarudin. The Government is sending mixed signals to the rakyat displaying confusion within its ranks.

I both applaud and support Datuk Seri Rais Yatim when he says that these people should have been charged in the court of law where they have the ability to defend themselves, rather than detained under the ISA.

I believe it is time for Parliament to review and limit the powers of the ISA to ensure that we do not repeat the errors of our past.

I also wish to voice my concern regarding the show cause letters handed to 3 newspapers recently. It is actions like these that cause our Press freedom rankings to be one of the worst in the world. The Government must realise post-March 8 the rakyat of Malaysia will no longer tolerate the suppression of their right to know.

I am also attaching another ignored press statement - this time on Ahmad Ismail.

Ahmad Ismail must be expelled

The Ahmad Ismail issue must be brought to a close. His attempt to excuse his racially divisive rhetoric is a slap in the face to all Malaysians, regardless of party allegiances, race or religion.

His act of violence is not only an offence against Koh Tsu Koon and Gerakan, but against the entire Barisan Nasional.

His actions are a direct challenge to the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Malaysian Government. With his arrogant outbursts he dares to hold the whole country to ransom.

The seditious statements he makes are in direct contravention of Article 8 of the Federal Constitution that makes all Malaysians equal before the law.

This is the time for firm action, the Prime Minister must show that he is the leader of all Malaysians and expel Ahmad Ismail from UMNO.

The Prime Minister and the Cabinet must also discuss Ahmad Ismail’s statements, one of the most seditious I have ever encountered, and have him charged under the court of law.

I urge the UMNO leadership to be firm, put out this fire before it becomes uncontrollable.

They must decide now whether it is better to sacrifice one man or to risk the entire Barisan Nasional coalition.

Dato' Chua Jui Meng's Speech in Seremban 17th September 2008 (PART 1)

SEREMBAN, 17th September 2008 - Dato' Chua addressed the assembled central delegates of four MCA divisions in Seremban today. His speech touched on major points of impending manifesto (which has been released as of today).

Below is part one of the speech (in Mandarin):-

"Buried by the Press"

Back in 2005, the Aliran Blog wrote a post that claims that Dato' Chua has been buried by the press. The article entitled "Chua Jui Meng buried by The Star" was posted up on the 19th of August that year during Dato' Chua's 1st run for the MCA Presidency.

I quote the article in full

Now that nominations to the MCA elections have been made, “officially” kicking off the campaigning, how has the MCA paper, The Star, covered the politicking leading up to the elections starting today? Have things improved since our blog entry of 9 August 2005, when we found the paper failing its readers and basic journalism miserably?

Well, they have not. In fact, its coverage has become even worse in yesterday’s report of Chua Jui Meng, who is taking on Ong Ka Ting for the post of MCA President.

Both the New Straits Times and theSun each gave a report to Chua’s press conference at Corus Hotel. And both led with Chua’s complaints about the current MCA, calling it “undemocratic”, among other things. Both papers also touched on why Chua had to call for the press conference and what he thought of the three-page “report card” issued jointly by Ong and Chan Kong Choy following nominations.

The NST gave more attention to Chua’s reason for calling the press conference. He was reported as saying that he was forced to do so as he had no other avenue to get through to delegates and explain his stand. He said he believed the delegates were told to avoid him.

Chua also said he knew who instructed the delegates to avoid him but he apparently did not say who it was; both the NST and theSun did not mention any names.

Meanwhile, theSun gave more emphasis to Chua’s view of Ong and Chan’s “report card”. Chua reportedly said that he was “flattered” by it because it was actually based on his manifesto, issued early last month, soon after he declared his intention to run for the presidency.

Indeed, soon after Chua came out with his manifesto, Ong was asked whether he would also issue his. Ong reportedly said he did not see the need for it. Chua took a swipe at Ong’s change of mind in coming up with the report card with Chan a few days ago.

Blacked out
So, how did The Star cover the above issues? It deliberately blacked out important relevant facts, thereby skewing its coverage.

Chua’s press conference was mentioned in one of the three election-related reports today; but it was obviously buried. It took up the last four paragraphs of a 11-paragraph piece entitled “Candidates in last dash campaign before polls”.

While there was mention of Chua’s manifesto, it was skewed only to show him saying he was prepared to spend a lot of time working on it to deliver on his promises. The report blacked out Chua’s contention that Ong and Chan’s report card was based on his manifesto.

Furthermore, The Star had a statement on Chua’s claim that delegates were told to avoid him, but not about how Chua said he knew who had been issuing the instruction. Instead, the paper immediately stated that Ong and Chan had told delegates they were free to meet any candidates.

The Star also ran an analysis (as opposed to news report) by Wong Chun Wai (a news editor) entitled “VP race results hard to predict”. Of the 22 paragraphs, only paragraphs 14 and 15 deal with the race for the posts of president and vice president.

Wong was confident that Ong and Chan would win their respective contests. Then, he abruptly stated that Chua (and Ting Chew Peh) had held a press conference—but nothing on any of Chua’s controversial claims reported by the NST and theSun.

Given Wong’s confidence, it would have made some sense - or at least it would have made his writing less glaringly deficient - to state why Chua had the press conference. But then again, that would probably get in the way of his paper’s apparent intention of blacking out certain facts.

Quite clearly, The Star’s coverage reflected its own “cai dan” or preference for Ong to fill the top MCA post. While it is acceptable for any paper to have a preference, they should also strive to be fair to all the candidates. They should restrict their stand only to their editorial column and try their best not to let it skew their news reporting of the different candidates.

And so, by deliberately blacking out certain pertinent facts, The Star continues to fail its readers and basic journalism miserably…

Fast forward to 2008 - just today The Star had an article entitled "Chua Jui Meng unveils his manifesto". The text of the article is a follows:-

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA presidential candidate Datuk Chua Jui Meng has pledged to rebuild the party, restore the party to relevance and realise Vision 2020.

In unveiling his manifesto on Sunday, he said it would not be right for the party to leave Barisan Nasional at such a critical moment despite calls by MCA delegates to do so.

He said that as one of the founding partners of the ruling coalition, together with Umno, and both parties should sit down and discuss issues if one was unhappy with the other.

“The fact that we place the burden of our losses on Umno is a clear indication of the root cause of MCA’s illness -- we have lost our direction and conceded our influence and rights as a Barisan partner to be involved in the decision- and policy-making processes of Government.

“I stand as the presidential candidate that seeks to remind the MCA what its original purpose was, I aim to set the direction for the party,” said Chua, who will be contesting against MCA vice-president Datuk Ong Tee Keat for the president's post in the party polls next month.

Party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting has said he would not contest the post.

This article shows that The Star is once again up to its old tricks! What is amazing about this article is the total lack of facts of the actual speech from the manifesto launch and the contents of the manifesto. The reported focused all her attention on a supplementary question - not on the actual manifesto itself!

It mentions not Dato' Chua's ideas to reform the party, his plans to let the MCA regain the trust of the people and his vision for Malaysia and all Malaysians. Truly, by once again blocking out the important and pertinent facts, The Star continues to fail its readers and basic journalism miserably…

MCAkini!?

MCAkini is a deliberate play on the popular alternative news website - Malaysiakini, not so much as to deride it - but in its honour.

Malaysiakini has been an exemplary example of how the press in Malaysia should be, carrying in it news from both the government as well as the opposition parties. Although, and I think many would agree, that the site has some opposition leanings - nevertheless it is a class above many papers in our country today.

Thus, MCAkini is named in its honour - a hope that views of people within that has been denied access to the media can be heard and seen without distortion. There exists a media bias in this nation that changes and distorts the truth - either by twisting the facts or just simply by exclusion.

However, even though MCAkini is named after Malaysiakini - its goal is not even attempt to play the role Malaysiakini or Malaysia today. Its goal is to affect a change in the culture of the MCA to be transparent, relevant to the people and make it into truly a party that reflects the hopes and dreams of the Malaysian people.

It is a blog of a supporter of Dato' Chua Jui Meng's run for the highest post of the party - and hopefully save it from oblivion.

Dato' Chua announces his candidacy for the post of MCA President

Coverage in English by The Star Online and in Mandarin by Malaysiakini.