The Reliable Source

I am tired with Malaysian newspapers.

But, I am happy with the alternative media.

I am quite sure that everyone believes that newspaper is a vehicle for information and facts. This is the avenue where people can read and grasp information quickly without having to go through television or Internet. It is handy and available at every corner of the world.

While newspaper stays relevant despite a competition by its rivals like Internet, I am afraid that it will slowly sink to nowhere if changes do not take place.

Based on my observation, most of our local newspapers failed to provide the right information to the public. We must understand that most of the people have a better access to newspapers compared to other alternative media. Thus, they have no choice but to choose a newspaper as a platform to know about the world outside.

However, this is the biggest fear of all. Since some of the reports are quite misleading, our readers are also being taken to a wrong side of information. The real fact is vital as it concerns not only the knowledge of our people but most importantly the national security.

I have a few examples on wrong and misleading report on our local newspapers.

Firstly, on oil royalty issue of Kelantan. The Federal government took the initiative by putting one whole page of explanation on a few newspapers. However, a few days later Ku Li made a statement on his blog by reiterating that the facts published were not accurate and false. This is a classic example on how facts are manipulated in order to serve somebody’s interest (I think so). As a reader, I am more inclined towards Ku Li’s statement since we all know that he was a chairman of Petronas and he knew inside out of the whole organisation. Thus, for Federal government to issue another explanation after Ku Li’s would be considered as futile and people are confused due to a spread of different information and explanation.

Secondly, report on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial. To me, it was a ’black day’ for our journalists. I was shocked and almost choked to death simply because our newspapers have turned into a ‘cerita porno terhebat abad ini’. They should be more careful in reporting on issue like this since we want a fair trial for both parties. We must avoid of trying to make media as a place for ‘another trial’ as perception and stigma are easily formed as readers read some biased news.

Well, those examples above are just a few (ha ha I do not want to mention on how newspapers are openly abused in order to incite racial sentiment). Media must act responsibly. It must play its role effectively by allowing a freedom for people to know the correct facts and let the people think on their feet.

The fate of our nation building is purely hinged on how we educate our people. We can no longer being served with cheap stories which are full of racial sentiments, lies and slanders. To our beloved journalists, please serve your duty responsibly. Kalau tak, nanti rating atau jualan will drop banyak gila!