Is the Government's efforts to crack down on planned protests on New Year's Eve
a ploy to distract Malaysians from the "real issue(s)" of rising
living costs?
We will explore 3 points:
1. The Malaysian Insider's (TMI's) Unusual Angle
2. Pot Calling the Kettle Black
3. Security, Complacency and Responsibility
Point 1: The Malaysian Insider's Unusual Angle
TMI has come out with an article alleging that the Government's crackdown on the New Year's Eve protest, including the arrest of student activist Azan Safar, is part of a ploy to distract the Malaysian public from the real issues of rising living cost.
According to TMI, the media blitz lead by UMNO-linked Utusan Malaysia is nothing more than a deflection, distraction, and disillusion.
While the news does make for sensational stories, eg. "Plot to overthrow government", "protests to usher in a year of hardship" etc, There are 2 points to be made here:
(I) TMI is unnecessarily undermining the ability of it's readers to discern the issues for themselves. I doubt Malaysians will forget the issues of rising living cost, toll hikes, or the GST any time soon.
If anything, the proposed protests acts as a reminder that some people see it fit to take to the streets to voice out their grouses. TMI hasn't been able to draw strong links between the purported media blitz and Malaysians forgetting their livelihood concerns.
(II) It makes TMI look petty. By attackin-, I mean, by pointing out that Government-linked media are focusing on different issues, TMI is undermining the possibility of a real security concern and potentially making it's readers ignorant to such a concern. It's irresponsible, considering TMI comes across as a reasonable and credible media outlet.
An important, questions arises as to TMI's motives. What's TMI's basis for this angle?
On the one hand, it appears that they have an agenda to play up cost of living concerns. No doubt, it's a smart angle because who doesn't love to hate the Government for rising prices?
On the other hand, it seems like they just want to make the Government look over-zealous in dealing with this security concern. And perhaps the Government is. But where do you draw the line between politicking and the Government trying to do its job? At the moment, TMI is being assertive without substantiating. Conjecture rules their news, and unfortunately, it works for them.
In my opinion, it's becoming too much and tiring. TMI isn't merely reporting the news. Just like Utusan, TMI is trying to dictate the calculus of Malaysian minds.
Not to say that one is better than the other.
Pot calling the kettle black? I think so.
Point 3: Security, Complacency, and Responsibility
Why isn't TMI more concerned about the potential security threat?
Potentially, this "security threat" is just conjecture. It could be cooked up, concocted or a mere cock-and-bull story.
But then, what if it's true?
We've seen the posters, and many Facebook and Twitter posts calling for some sort of action against the Government to usher the New Year. One FB post even rallied others to bring in weapons, under the guise of 'protection' or self-defence from the police.
Admittedly, it may sound far-fetched, but there have been requests for bombs, and there have been bombs going off in south Thailand. Supplies may be closer than we think.
All it takes is for one over-zealous anti-Government protester to behave irrationally.
And in today's day and age when social media and the various media outlets give these so-called activist the illusion of support and legitimacy, it doesn't take much before Malaysia has its own Anders Behring Breivik. God forbid.
TMI has every right to report on what it wants, but it should not vehemently choose the opposition position from the Government at every opportunity.
It's ok to support freedom of association and expression, and I too oppose the manner of arrest of Azan Safar, but media outlets like TMI need to find a little bit more of a balance.
By taking the Government conspiracy angle, they've closed their minds to other newsworthy items, and to this issue of potential security. As responsible media, who purportedly represent the awakening Malaysian civil society, that attitude is dangerous to the growth of media discourse.
TMI has as much a duty to ensure Malaysians are aware of potential security threats as much as they have a right to ensure issues of rising living costs are not forgotten. If TMI belittles this issue, so will a large chunk of its readers, and less vigilance is not something any media outlet should be promoting.
Time to step up TMI, and be the bigger media.
You're doing a lot of checking, but where's the balancin'.
We will explore 3 points:
1. The Malaysian Insider's (TMI's) Unusual Angle
2. Pot Calling the Kettle Black
3. Security, Complacency and Responsibility
Point 1: The Malaysian Insider's Unusual Angle
TMI has come out with an article alleging that the Government's crackdown on the New Year's Eve protest, including the arrest of student activist Azan Safar, is part of a ploy to distract the Malaysian public from the real issues of rising living cost.
According to TMI, the media blitz lead by UMNO-linked Utusan Malaysia is nothing more than a deflection, distraction, and disillusion.
While the news does make for sensational stories, eg. "Plot to overthrow government", "protests to usher in a year of hardship" etc, There are 2 points to be made here:
(I) TMI is unnecessarily undermining the ability of it's readers to discern the issues for themselves. I doubt Malaysians will forget the issues of rising living cost, toll hikes, or the GST any time soon.
If anything, the proposed protests acts as a reminder that some people see it fit to take to the streets to voice out their grouses. TMI hasn't been able to draw strong links between the purported media blitz and Malaysians forgetting their livelihood concerns.
(II) It makes TMI look petty. By attackin-, I mean, by pointing out that Government-linked media are focusing on different issues, TMI is undermining the possibility of a real security concern and potentially making it's readers ignorant to such a concern. It's irresponsible, considering TMI comes across as a reasonable and credible media outlet.
"The Media is meant to be the 4th organ of the Government, as part of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. Currently, our media, both pro-BN and pro-PR, are doing a lot of checking, but not as much balancing"
Point 2: Of Motives and Arising Curiosities. Pot calling the kettle black.An important, questions arises as to TMI's motives. What's TMI's basis for this angle?
On the one hand, it appears that they have an agenda to play up cost of living concerns. No doubt, it's a smart angle because who doesn't love to hate the Government for rising prices?
On the other hand, it seems like they just want to make the Government look over-zealous in dealing with this security concern. And perhaps the Government is. But where do you draw the line between politicking and the Government trying to do its job? At the moment, TMI is being assertive without substantiating. Conjecture rules their news, and unfortunately, it works for them.
In my opinion, it's becoming too much and tiring. TMI isn't merely reporting the news. Just like Utusan, TMI is trying to dictate the calculus of Malaysian minds.
Not to say that one is better than the other.
Pot calling the kettle black? I think so.
Point 3: Security, Complacency, and Responsibility
Why isn't TMI more concerned about the potential security threat?
Potentially, this "security threat" is just conjecture. It could be cooked up, concocted or a mere cock-and-bull story.
But then, what if it's true?
We've seen the posters, and many Facebook and Twitter posts calling for some sort of action against the Government to usher the New Year. One FB post even rallied others to bring in weapons, under the guise of 'protection' or self-defence from the police.
Admittedly, it may sound far-fetched, but there have been requests for bombs, and there have been bombs going off in south Thailand. Supplies may be closer than we think.
All it takes is for one over-zealous anti-Government protester to behave irrationally.
And in today's day and age when social media and the various media outlets give these so-called activist the illusion of support and legitimacy, it doesn't take much before Malaysia has its own Anders Behring Breivik. God forbid.
TMI has every right to report on what it wants, but it should not vehemently choose the opposition position from the Government at every opportunity.
It's ok to support freedom of association and expression, and I too oppose the manner of arrest of Azan Safar, but media outlets like TMI need to find a little bit more of a balance.
By taking the Government conspiracy angle, they've closed their minds to other newsworthy items, and to this issue of potential security. As responsible media, who purportedly represent the awakening Malaysian civil society, that attitude is dangerous to the growth of media discourse.
TMI has as much a duty to ensure Malaysians are aware of potential security threats as much as they have a right to ensure issues of rising living costs are not forgotten. If TMI belittles this issue, so will a large chunk of its readers, and less vigilance is not something any media outlet should be promoting.
Time to step up TMI, and be the bigger media.
You're doing a lot of checking, but where's the balancin'.
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