Kangkung-gate Part 2: Bitterness, The Sensibles and New News

In Part 2 of this series, I'll be taking a look at the aftermath of the Kangkung issue, which I think proves among others, the point on information fatigue, and what has made the news since.

I waited about 8 days to see how things panned out. And sure enough, we've got new play-things (issues) now. 

[1]    I tried looking for the text of the Kangkung-speech. Among the keywords used included “PM kangkung speech text”, “teks ucapan kangkung”, “teks PM 12 Januari 2014” etc. etc. all of which were to no avail.

[2]    The text was important because context is important. On 17 January 2014, the PM came out and emphasized that kangkung was used as an example and that others should not have made fun of the statement. Something about using it to explain the supply and demand principle and to show Malaysians that he was aware of their plight.

[3]    Fair enough.

[4]    Related thereto, he directed the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Cooperative (KPDNKK) to be firmer when dealing with traders who inflate prices. He wanted them to ensure that traders acted ethically in conducting their businesses, while at the same time assisting Malaysians.

[5]    Again, fair enough. I think, at the very least, “hey, that’s pretty good”.

[6]    Now, all I want to say is this: We really need to stop being so sinister, sarcastic, and silly when it comes to these things.

[7]    We are becoming more and more like the American Democrats and Republicans: Whatever they say is wrong and whatever we say is right.

[8]    Polarisation is making us bitter.

Point 1: The Sensibles

[9]    I think the PM was being sensible in his defence of the usage of the kangkung example. Granted, people were probably angry because of what kangkung represented – i.e. a disconnected leadership – rather than the kangkung per se. Nevertheless, I think we can be less angry if we took a step back and were more sensible about it.

[10] Again, the Government is doing something about it.

[11] Unfortunately, pro-Pakatan Rakyat supporters choose to see it as wrong, regardless.

[12] That aside, it was also nice to see Khairy Jamaluddin come out in defence of the PM in a simple Tweet, which basically stated “Chill la”. Smart.

[13] Indirectly, Lim Kit Siang too did a good thing when he asked Machang Bubuk Assemblyman Lee Khai Loon to consider apologising for the flash mod over the kangkung. He recognised that there were those who regarded the protest as “excessive, offensive, and insensitive” and how ‘he was one of them’.

[14] As a Malaysian concerned for the country, I’m glad that, at times, there are sensible voices. But they are far and few in between. It says something about where we are as a nation – and let’s not just blame the politicians. Most of us are adults here.

Point 2: New News

[15] Information fatigue has set in. We’ve moved on to other issues. Undoubtedly, the price hike in its totality is still in the minds of most Malaysians, but the kangkung fad seems to have faded away a little bit – though rest assured it will crop up again when political expediency calls for it. You did not hear this here first.  

[16] Big items in the news over the last 7 days included: The continuing three-way feud between Azmin Ali, Khalid Ibrahim and Anwar; Lee Chong Wei Winning his 10^th Malaysian Title (yay); the Cabinet’s position on the Allah issue and bible confiscation; the retraining of English teachers; and of course, Nurul Izzah’s (alleged? Confirmed? Maybe-maybe not) divorce.

[17] Of the issues highlighted above, guess which one has been trending the most on Twitter and has been receiving the most views on news sites? If you guessed the Cabinet’s position, you are absolutely wrong. It’s Nurul’s Izzah’s story.

[18] I don’t want to dwell on this because her purported divorce is her business. It’s sad when individuals don’t get the privacy they deserve. She may be a politician, and a popular one at that, but she’s still a person.

[19]    Unfortunately, it makes for sensational and tabloid news, and it is this type of news that sells papers and garners readership – ask anyone in the media industry and they’ll vouch for it.

[20]    But then again, newspapers report newsworthy items, and in the realm of the media, anything and anyone are game.

Conclusion

[21]    Perverse? If you’re reading this, you probably have the sense to know my preferred answer.

[22]    Kangkung what? Yep, we’ve moved on. Oh, time to catch Anugerah Juara Lagu.