Umno media are ironically furnishing the best evidence of the rise of Middle Malaysia

The 1Malaysia GTP talks about “promoting an all-inclusive 1Malaysia media”. It said:

“However, when some of the reporting and writing becomes too ethno-centric or even takes on a more race-centred angle, it raises, rather than breaks down, barriers. Further, instead of providing constructive and valid criticism, some writers abuse the greater freedom of expression now available to use terms and express feelings that are racist or inflammatory in nature and tone.

“While censorship is antithetical to democracy, there is a need to introduce, instill and internalize a commitment to journalistic professionalism, a sense of responsibility and self-restraint, with sensitivity to the divergent views and feelings of the diverse communities in Malaysia.”

Any independent survey of the mass media scene will show that those most guilty of the sins of being “too ethnocentric or even takes on a more race-centred angle” and abuses of using “terms and express feelings that are racist or inflammatory in nature and tone”, totally insensitive to “the divergent views and feelings of the diverse communities in Malaysia” in the past two years since the March 8 “political tsunami” of the 2008 general election are the Umno media of Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian.

Nobody is suggesting the closure of Utusan Malaysia or Berita Harian but have those responsible for the 1Malaysia GTP Roadmap in particular the KPI Minister, Koh Tsu Koon done anything apart from advocating “an all-inclusive 1Malaysia media”, to communicate with the errant Umno media “to introduce, instill and internalize a commitment to journalistic professionalism, a sense of responsibility and self-restraint, with sensitivity to the divergent views and feeling of the diverse communities in Malaysia” and above all, the meaning of the 1Malaysia concept?

In a way, the Umno media are ironically furnishing the best evidence of the rise of Middle Malaysia.

In the past, the vial of poison, lies and sedition relentlessly pumped out by Umno media like Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian relentlessly for two years – for instance the falsehoods that DAP is anti-Malay and wants to abolish the Malay monarchy by establishing a republic – would have sparked unrest and turmoil in Malaysia pre-March 8, 2008 when mainstream media (msm) were virtually the sole source of information in the country.

But today, there would be those who would read this cealesless spiel of poison, lies and sedition with a yawn because it lacks credibility, although its capacity to create mischief cannot be under-estimated as not all Malaysians can escape the thrall of the Umno/Barisan Nasional monopoly of msm.
In previous years, DAP leaders would be very alarmed by such poisonous and seditious fare in the Umno newspapers.

There is still cause for alarm but also room for confidence that with the rise of a Middle Malaysia it is no more a one-sided affair where the Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian lies are taken as gospel truth. More Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans and Ibans, have a greater capacity to discern truth from falsehoods like those spouted by the UMNO media.

The best way to debunk the Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian poison, lies and sedition is to subject it to the exposure of reason and truth, but this does not mean that those in authority, particularly the Police and the Attorney-General should not take the necessary action against these Umno media to protect the integrity and the best interests of plural Malaysia.

[Speech by DAP Parliamentary Leader and MP for Ipoh Timor Lim Kit Siang in Dewan Rakyat on the Royal Address on Thursday, 18th March 2010]