Utusan Malaysia is the stupidest newspaper in the world - the proof

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Utusan Malaysia is the stupidest newspaper in the world - the proof

I laughed my head off. The mee rebus which I had for lunch is now threatening to make its way upward and later, outward.

Many Malaysians have given up with the mainstream media. That is because their so called responsible journalism entails nothing more than the act of extreme spinning of facts and events to suit their political masters or their own not-so-hidden agenda.

I have ceased reading the local newspapers for a long long time. I have for example, berated against the NST for their treatment of the Bersih rally some time ago.

Despite all the lies, untruth and skewed reporting that these newspapers have been carrying all these while, the Prime Minister recently saw it fit to hail Utusan Malaysia for, among others, "being the voice of the people".

Well, I now have proof that Utusan Malaysia is nothing more than a loyal servant of their political masters. I now have proof that Utusan Malaysia will not stop at almost anything in order to protect its political masters. For whatever is deemed necessary to protect its political masters, Utusan Malaysia would stoop as low as physic permits to do and execute. And that includes misrepresentations and even downright lying. It will even doctor photographs!

The thing is this. They are not even good at doing it!! To lie and misrepresent an event is something. But to do it in a really stupid way is another thing altogether. Do Utusan Malaysia think that all of us, Malaysians, are as stupid as themselves?

We are in a globalisation era. We are in the cyber era. We are not in the 60s or 70s anymore. Nowadays, stupidity is easily exposed.

What am I ranting and raving about? Well, I received an e mail from a friend of mine just now. It contained a picture of an event which took place on 9.11.2009. The same picture was published by many local newspapers while reporting the same event.

As the story goes, a man in his 70s was arrested for allegedly killing his wife. The following picture was published by Berita Harian:

This was in the Star:

And this was in Harian Metro:

Notice the blue umbrella? That umbrella has the Barisan Nasional emblem on it. Quite obviously, that umbrella was distributed by the Barisan Nasional during some kind of election as it has the "vote-BN" emblem on it.

Utusan Malaysia, thinking that the stupid masses of Malaysia might equate Barisan Nasional to a person arrested for an alleged murder because of that blue umbrella, quickly exercised its responsible journalistic discretion by DOCTORING the same photograph and published the same in its report as follows:

This is my proof that Utusan Malaysia is the stupidest newspaper in the whole world!

http://art-harun.blogspot.com/2009/11/utusan-malaysia-is-stupidest-newspaper.html

ntv7 host ‘reassigned’ over jibby’s bad scorecard

ntv7 host ‘reassigned’ over jibby’s bad scorecard

All her guest did was to give premier Najib Abdul Razak a ‘C’ or ‘D’ rating for his first 100 days in office.

It was enough to see ntv7 talk-show host Florence Looi being issued a warning letter and an immediate transfer to the news desk of the private television station.

Looi, who hosts the popular ‘Point of View’ current affairs programme, was said to have ‘breached editorial policy’, according to ntv7 sources.

The two guests on the talk-show, aired on July 5, were author Syed Akhbar Ali and consulting editor Leslie Lau of news portal Malaysian Insider. It was the latter’s remarks that landed Looi in trouble.

The sources said she was verbally told that she should not have asked her guests to rate Najib’s performance. As Looi is the host-cum-producer of the programme, she was the only one who received the warning letter.

Looi, who is assistant assignment editor, has since been reassigned to cover news, ostensibly because of a shortage of human resources at the news desk

This incident might well seal the fate of ‘Point of View’, which has just concluded its second season. There has been no announcement yet as to whether there will be a third season.
However, the sources believe that, even if the programme is continued, a new host will be appointed.

Looi refused comment when contacted, while efforts to reach the management were futile.
Ntv7 is one of the four free-to-air private TV stations belonging to media giant Media Prima Bhd which is closely linked to Umno. The other three stations are TV3, 8TV and tv9.

Media Prima has also spiked news about the mansion that former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo is building in Shah Alam. The blanket ban was applied after the ntv7 Chinese news slot at 5.30pm aired the bulletin.

‘Only an opinion’

Centre for Independent Journalism executive director V.Gayathry took ntv7 to task for practising self-censorship.

“The comment by the guest on the performance rating is not anything critical, but just an opinion,” she said.

She said that Looi was punished for asking an important question at a time when everyone else was evaluating Najib’s performance.

“The show has provided a lot of space of good discussion (and Looi has been doing a good job),” she noted.

Gayathry recalled that, when Najib took office, Media Prima had issued orders to the four television stations not to name political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda when reporting the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case. Razak is Najib’s confidante.

”We would like to ask if it is Najib’s policy to put people in the TV station to practise censorship,” Gayathri added.

‘Point of View’ has been broadcast at 6pm on Sundays. Guests are invited from either side of the divide on such hot topics such as the Internal Security Act, language-switch policy, vernacular education, police accountability and the recent PKFZ scandal.

Since Najib assumed power, top media personnel aligned to former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi have been replaced.

Those who had served during the tenure of Dr Mahathir Mohamad have made a return, leading to the perception that there is a return to a more restrictive media environment.

Former New Straits Times group editor Ahmad Talib is now Executive Director, News and Editorial Operations, at Media Prima, as well as the Executive Director (Editorial) of New Straits Times Press.

Former Berita Harian Sdn Bhd group editor Manja Ismail is Media Prima news and current affairs editor, assisting Ahmad.

Ng Ling Fong & Yong Kai Ping, Mkini

http://ckcounterpunch.wordpress.com/2009/07/13/ntv7-host-reassigned-over-jibbys-bad-scorecard/

the Malay Mail - Gutter journalism

Gutter journalism

Today’s front page of the Malay Mail is a regrettable example of gutter journalism. It features a headline story about nude photos of a Selangor female politician circulating in the public domain.
The photos were believed to be taken using a camera phone without her consent by a former boyfriend while she was sleeping.

Not only is the story tantamount to an invasion of privacy, “the Malay Mail played dirty by putting a picture of a bare-backed woman next to the story,” said one political analyst, who described it as “gutter politics”.

On the front cover, an unrelated photo of a back-backed female Formula One driver on the right is staring towards the left at the bold headline of the Selangor nude photos story, “Fury over bedroom invasion”.

We are being struck by probably the greatest global economic downturn since the Great Depression - and some are predicting that it could be worse than that. Manufacturing and exports are nose-diving, workers are being laid off, others are struggling to cope with the high cost of living. Many ordinary people are suffering.

That’s not all. The Selangor state government is in the midst of crucial negotiations to take over water assets from private concessionaires who are eyeing a tariff hike. Perak is experiencing a major constitutional crisis.

None of this merits front page coverage in the Malay Mail, which instead has other priorities in its bid to sell more newspapers.

Disclosure: I contributed a few stories to the Malay Mail during last August’s Permatang Pauh by-election upon their request.

http://anilnetto.com/malaysian-politics/gutter-journalism/#more-8281

PAS Selangor kesal laporan Utusan Malaysia

KENYATAAN MEDIA
PAS NEGERI SELANGOR



PAS Selangor kesal laporan Utusan Malaysia

PAS Selangor kesal dengan laporan mukadepan akhbar Utusan Malaysia bawah tajuk "PAS akui sukar tadbir Selangor bersama PKR,DAP" (bertarikh Sabtu, 6 Disember 2008) yang sesungguhnya tersasar dan menyeleweng samasekali dari kenyataan sebenar Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor, Dato' Dr Hasan Mohd Ali, di dalam sidang media PAS Selangor yang diadakan pada hari Jumaat 5 Disember, 2008.

Di dalam sidang media berkenaan Dato' Dr Hasan tidak pernah menyebut bahawa PAS menghadapi kesukaran untuk memperjuangkan serta mempertahankan hak orang Islam dan Melayu di Selangor sebagaimana yang dilaporkan oleh Utusan Malaysia. Malah beliau menegaskan dalam sidang media berkenaan bahawa PAS tidak terpinggir dan sebarang anggapan sebegitu tegas beliau sebenarnya dimanipulasi oleh Barisan Nasional untuk menggugat kerjasama baik antara PAS, DAP dan PKR di Selangor.

Dato' Dr Hasan juga tidak pernah menyebut bahawa kadang-kala PAS terpaksa melupakan matlamat perjuangan utama parti iaitu untuk menegakkan syiar Islam semata-mata kerana mahu mengambil hati PKR dan DAP sebagaimana dilaporkan oleh Utusan Malaysia. Malah yang sebenarnya beliau telah menggariskan dengan jelas bahawa PAS tidak pernah dan tidak akan bertolak-ansur dalam hal-hal berhubung Islam dan kepentingannya di Selangor.

PAS Selangor merasakan bahawa pihak Utusan Malaysia sangat tidak bertanggungjawab sehingga terlanjur mengeluarkan laporan yang sedemikian rupa yang mencerminkan rendahnya nilai profesionalisma di dalam akhbar berkenaan. PAS Selangor beranggapan laporan tersebut berunsur jahat kerana tidak ada mana-mana pihak dari media arus perdana yang turut hadir dalam sidang media berkenaan membuat laporan seperti itu di akhbar-akhbar mereka.

PAS Selangor ingin menasihatkan pihak Utusan Malaysia agar lebih berhati-hati dimasa-masa yang akan datang dan tidak lagi mengorbankan etika dan profesionalisma kewartawanan ketika membuat laporan sebagaimana yang berlaku ini. Dalam pada itu PAS Selangor akan terus mengadakan sidang media setiap dua minggu sekali bagi memberi peluang kepada rakyat Selangor dan seluruh masyarakat Malaysia mendapat maklumat terus darihal peranan dan perkembangan PAS Selangor di dalam kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat negeri ini.


Roslan Shahir bin Datuk Mohd Shahir
Ketua Penerangan PAS Negeri Selangor

Shah Alam
Ahad, 7 Disember 2008

Utusan putar belit kenyataan Presiden Pas

KUALA TERENGGANU, 3 Novemver (SK): Presiden Pas Abdul Hadi Awang melahirkan rasa kecewa dengan tindakan Utusan cuba memutar belit fakta tentang kenyataannya.

Kali ini berita yang dilaporkan oleh wartawannya, Zulkifli Mansor mungkin diubah oleh editor Mingguan Malaysia berhubung isu pelantikan pelantikan Low Siew Moi sebagai pemangku Pengurus Besar Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS).

Dalam laporan Mingguan Malaysia terbitan Utusan Melayu dipetik, Ahli Parlimen Marang itu tidak bersetuju dengan perlantikan bekas Timbalan Pengurus Korporat dan Akaun PKNS itu.

Laporan itu mendakwa Ahli Parlimen Marang itu berkata, sistem pentadbiran Selangor sepatutnya diterajui oleh penduduk majoriti iaitu Melayu dan Islam.

“Sehubungan itu, beliau akan meminta penjelasan KeADILan Selangor berhubung pelantikan orang nombor dua PKNS itu,” lapor Mingguan Malaysia pada 2 November lalu.

Berita tersebut ditulis berpandukan sidang media yang diadakan selepas Abdul Hadi merasmikan majlis Ijtimak Kepimpinan Pas Terengganu di Kemaman sehari sebelumnya.

Seramai lima wartawan hadir di sidang media tersebut termasuk Zulkifli dan wartawan Sin Chew Daily, Lee Yong Sang.

Turut Hadir adalah Timbalan Pesuruhjaya Pas Terengganu, Wan Mutalib Wan Embong.

Hadi mahu perjelasan editor Utusan

Sementara itu, ketika dihubungi oleh Suara Keadilan, bekas Menteri Besar Terengganu itu mahu pihak Utusan memberi penjelasan kepada beliau dalam tempoh 24 jam.

“Jika tidak kami akan mengambil tindakan undang-undang ke atas akhbar terbabit,” kata Setiausaha Khasnya, Zaihan Mohd Daud.=======================================
(Berikut adalah transkrip tentang isu PKNS di sidang media tersebut)

Lee Yong Sang (LYS): Dato’ Seri boleh komen sikit tak itu, isu Low Siew Moi dilantik sebagai pemangku PKNS nampak (ada) bantahan dari PAS Selangor.

Abdul Hadi (AH): Saya baru balik daripada luar negara baru, (selama) sehari, tak dapat maklumat, dan saya memerlukan maklumat dari kawan-kawan Selangor, tak boleh beri komen.

LYS: Pasal dia kata (mem)bantah sebab bukan Melayu.

AH: Iya. Saya kena dengar dari Selangor dulu.

Wan Mutalib (WM): Pelantikan tu (hanya) pemangku.

LYS: Pemangku.

WM: It is acting, so, its not a final decision.

AH: Kalau pemangku itu boleh.

LYS : Maknanya kalau pemangku itu boleh terimalah ke macamana?

AH: Saya kena dengar keputusan Selangor dulu.

LYS: Sama dengan isu pemansuhan saham 30% Bumiputera, dapat tentangan dari PAS juga, So macamana?

AH: Itu juga saya mesti dapat penjelasan dari Selangor, kita tunggu, (saya) baru balik dari luar negara, tak pergi lagi (ke) pejabat di Kuala Lumpur.

LYS: Dato’ Seri beri komen secara amlah, kalau seseorang itu tidak diterima sebab dia bukan Islam, (untuk) dilantikkan jawatan ini kalau disebabkan dia bukan Islam, apa alasan akan diberikan.

AH: Sekarang, semua pihak menerima sama ada KeADILan ataupun DAP, teras pemerintahan dan pentadbiran Negara mestilah orang Melayu Islam, sudah diterima, dalam masa yang sama tidak menafikan peranan semua kaum yang ada dalam negara ini, (dan) itu asas umum.

Media dilarang siar isu Gani ganggu bukti kes Anwar

Media dilarang siar isu Gani ganggu bukti kes Anwar
Oct 8, 08 2:09pm
Mahkamah Sesyen Kuala Lumpur hari ini mengeluarkan arahan kepada media agar tidak menerbitkan butiran dakwaan Peguam Negara Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail mengganggu bukti dalam kes Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim 10 tahun lepas.

Hakim SM Komathy Suppiah mengarahkan sedemikian selepas meluluskan permohonan yang dikemukakan oleh ketua pihak pendakwa Datuk Yusof Zainal Abiden selepas penghujahan peguam bekas timbalan perdana menteri, Sulaiman Abdullah.

Peguam itu sebelumnya menghujahkan dakwaan pembabitan Abdul Gani itu sewaktu membantah keputusan pihak pendakwa memindahkan kes liwat Anwar ke Mahkamah Tinggi.

Pihak pembela membantah sijil pemindahan kes itu yang ditandatangani oleh Abdul Gani, yang kini sedang disiasat oleh Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) berhubung dakwaan memalsukan bukti dalam kes Anwar sedekad lalu.

Komathy juga menangguhkan perkara itu esok untuk membolehkan Sulaiman meneruskan penghujahannya.


http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/90876

Authorities order ISPs to block access to Malaysia Today news website

Reporters Without Borders calls on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to immediately rescind the order it issued on 26 August to TMNet, the country's biggest ISP, and to 20 other Malaysia ISPs to block access to the Malaysia Today news website (http://www.malaysia-today.net).


"With the media subject to close government control, websites constitute one of the few areas of free speech in Malaysia," Reporters Without Borders said. "We remind the commission that under the rules of democracy, only a court should be able to censor a website. This order, which was not the result of any complaint brought before the courts, is not only questionable but also disproportionate, as it was issued because of comments posted on the site about the articles. We call for Malaysia Today to be unblocked at once."

The website has been notified that it is being blocked under section 263 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, which says an ISP must obey a written request from the commission "in the national interest." However, section 3 of the same law says: "Nothing in this act shall be construed as permitting the censorship of the Internet."

The government also undertook to "ensure that there is no Internet censorship" in the charter of the "Multimedia Super Corridor," a business consortium formed on the initiative of the ministry of communications with the aim of promoting new technologies. The government endorsed the charter in 1996.

Nazri Abdul Aziz, a minister with responsibility for justice, said in July 2007 that the government would not hesitate to use the Internal Security Act against online activists. Under the ISA, someone who is deemed to have threatened state security can be held without trial for two years.

Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin has created a "mirror" website at which Malaysia Today can still be accessed from within Malaysia. Its address is http://mt.harapanmalaysia.com. Aged 58 and known as "RPK," Raja Petra is the country's first online journalist to be charged under the 1948 Sedition Act. He was arrested on 6 May for linking a senior government official to the murder of a young woman. He was released on bail three days later and is due to appear in court on 10 September. He faces a possible three-year sentence for violating a Sedition Act provision that outlaws inciting "hatred, doubt or contempt" for any government leader or member.