Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Fast, furious and stupid in KL



Updates: SAPP to get showcause letter from BN
Media barricade removed by BN Backbenchers
Editors speak up against lobby restriction

It's fast and furious in KL. The Barisan Nasional has called for an emergency supreme council meeting at Parliament House at noon. It is almost certain that the SAPP issue would top the agenda. SAPP president Yong Teck Lee was served notice to turn up at the ACA office in Kota Kinabalu at 3pm for investigations only to get a call just minutes ago that it has been postponed. ACA officers from KL would be flying there to question him instead over allegations that RM5mil was paid to his agents. The press corp at Parliament is threatening to boycott all conferences at the lobby after reporters were barred from the place.

The lobby has now been condoned off, like some emergency area, a stupid act which has infuriated the media. It is unprecedented. The decision has left reporters stunned and certainly insulted. Media organisations have already been restricted to five representatives each. The Star and Malaysiakini have their updates here. In Shah Alam, PKR secretary Mohd Yahya Mat Sabri has quit his post. Mohd Yahya, an aide to the Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, has been suspended from duties following allegations that he "fixed" cleaning and garbage collection contracts. The talk in Shah Alam is that Mohd Yahya is a victim of power play in PKR. He has gone off to see Anwar Ibrahim. Another day in Malaysian politics. It's fast, furious and stupid in KL.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Datuk, bravo for touching on the Parliament part. Sir with due respect, it is time for the Malaysian media to stand-up and be counted. We would never do anything to bring chaos to this nation. We know the consequence of such a disaster. The authorities should not treat us reporters as kids. Without us, these politicians are nobodies and they should realise that! Onece again Thank You for making a stand on the issue!

Anonymous said...

Is this the start of Media Sakti?

allen ng said...

This administration of Pak Lah is really a flip-flop and it is ridiculous to come up with this stupid kind of ruling.The express investigation of Yong Teck Lee by ACA is another political persecution by the BN's govt.Why now and not earlier ?

Anonymous said...

FAST AND FURIOUS...and this was majority's vote,

THROW YOUR MOTHER'S SMELLY SHOES

Anonymous said...

I say we should boycott BN press conference and interviews for 14 days. Shun them. Ignore them. But if they do bad thngs, give it front page. Let them beg for press coverage. But then tak boleh le...All the major press are owned by BN bosses!

Anonymous said...

aniritatedreporter, don't just talk and show your displeasure on the blog. The press should use your mighty airtime and printed space to punish the BN bullies. IGNORE the BN. Make them kneel down and beg for the journalists to show up at their press conferences. If they do stupid things like the "Eye in the Sky" give them front page coverage. Make them look stupid. You want them to respect you, you must put them in their places. Otherwise they will push you around like beggars begging to talk to them, begging from them for a sliver of statement for you to print. When are you folks going to apply some psychology in your work?

Anonymous said...

Dewan Rakyat would be an oxymoron if the Rakyat (and that include press people) are given limited access to the place.
In the old days, when the BN was in overwhelming numbers, you won't even see the kind of attendance of the YBs as you have now since they have no way of knowing when a division vote would be called.
So the need for them to be within the House is even more paramount, and therefore a place for them to meet people near the chambers is necessary.
This is mind boggling...

sinnersaint:saintsinner said...

Mr Chun Wai,

LETS GIVE THESE MPs THE TRUE MEANING and experience of the word "BLACK OUT" only then will they respect jurnos

Maybe select a few of these blabber mouths and cut them off, no coverage.

Now is the time, the Editorial board must protect its jurnos, enough of cow tauing ke ke ke

Anonymous said...

Media people, please show the BN folks what is the meaning of the power of the press! Show them that the pen is mightier than the sword. How? Yeah, black out the BN propaganda. Black out their announcements. Boycott their press conferences. Make them send a limo to pick you up to attend their press conference before you cover their events. I tell you if you do this, you will never see another press blockade. They will even shiver in their pants if you are late in turning up at their events, worrying like shit that you may not show up.

Anonymous said...

The press should expect the govt to treat them like the corporate people treat the press...like VVIP! Why? It is very simple. In the corporate world, we woo the press and try our best to improve rapport with the press. We like good news. And if there is any bad news, we hope the good rapport will soften the kind of bad news printed. Similarly the government folks need you too for the same reason. It is just that the press have forgotten that, or have been brainwashed, or intimidated by their big titles of dato and Tan Sri. But they NEED YOU, and don't you ever forget that. Just a piece of bad press for any govt figures will result in many days of frantic damage control activities by them. Use your clout!

Krishna said...

Datuk Wong,

Now you are on thr right track! Bravo and let us more these type of honest comments. You do not have to suck up to your political masters!

Anonymous said...

Dear Media people. I worked in a coporate for decades. When we have events or press conference, we ALWAYS put the media people in front, seated in VIP seats. We worry whether you will accept our invitations to come. We worry whether you will show up. We aorry that you may not catch what we say, so we always prepare press kits so that you can focus on listening instead of trying to take notes. We always prepare anticiapted questions and answers. We worry whether you will give us a good write up or even any write up. We even give you our mobile number and email address to call us up for clarification. We are happy if you want a one-to-one interview. Yes, the press is king. Now if you will please start treating the government people like corporate people, and expect them to show you the same coutesy, you will get respect from them. They need you more than ou need them. And we were also trained in the corporate that we should never argue with media people, and we should never belittle any of them even if we know the individuals involved know next to nothing in that topic. In fact we are pleased to even get a chance to do a little "selling of our goodness" to those individuals to win over their mindshare. Don't let the big titles of the dato and Tan Sri intimidate you. Look at them like another human being, and that they need your press write up, and they need a good write up. They have a lot at stake. You, on the other hand, are not paid that much, and you can get another job in the myriads of press companies, magazines, TV stations, etc or even work in corporate as PR executives, etc. You have a lot more options than you think, in case your editors cop out and don't support you. Lift your heads high when you deal with politicians. Be proud of your career, and don't accept shit from them.

Anonymous said...

Datuk,

would you be so brave if MCA was still a strong part of the axis of the evil BN?

i don't think so...

Anonymous said...

Datuk,
In years to come our grandchildren will be wondering out loud,what took so long for the Malaysian media to finally stand up and be counted!

Anonymous said...

Some reporter are human but 90% behave like animal and holigan. I totally agreed with Parliment had done, as when i was thre they create alot of bad weather.

Anonymous said...

Malaysian are no longer "katak di bawah tempurung"
They know how to choose their rights! They would demand transparency and not surprises for choosing what is good or bad for their welfare.Final decision made by the rakyat...

Anonymous said...

Is it true that Nazri, Minister in charge of Parliamentary affairs, ordered the curbs on the media? Malaysian Insider has the story here: http://www.malaysianinsider.com/index.php/home/42-lead-stories/997-nazri-ordered-media-curbs-says-bn-backbencher

amoker said...

Datuk,

Courageous act indeed. Made a note to come to your blog to voice my support for your team , and others who are rational profesionals. Is parliament under siege? Certaintly not from the outside.

Anyway, I am pissed with NST again. They came out with the 100 days report card on Sunday and gave a glowing report for Barisan based on own BN leader's own statements. For PR, they used MCA and ex Gerakan think thank and came out with a below par assestment. Is it ethical?

Anonymous said...

well chun wai,

finally u r standing up! can u go the next step to support BENAR!