The so-called freedom of speech in the world's "most progressive Muslim nation"

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A blatantly biased and inaccurate article was published today on the News Straits Times site, I have no clue if it's in the print edition because I've long stopped getting my fingers inky.

If we thought Fox News was a joke with their anti-Kerry fabricated sexist quotes - it seems that the Malaysian News Straits Times is also vying for the title of "Fair and Balanced" reporting.

The article comes across as describing Malaysia as multi-racial paradise where both man and woman, of any race have equal opportunities to succeed and live in a nation where Islam is espoused as the "national" religion. The "equitable economic opportunities" that Kalimullah Hassan speaks of is the brainchild of the former Prime Minister (author of the Malay Dilemma which chastised the Malays for their lack of progress and shortcomings, and suggests an affirmative action plan to improve their economic and political lot in Malaysia). The New Economic Policy instituted by Tun Dr Mahathir adopts positive discrimination policies in favour of the bumiputeras (Malays, the majority race). But of course, this equitable economic opportunity is enjoyed and celebrated by those who have benefited from it. What of those who never did and never will because of their ancestry?

Other inaccuracies and oxymoronic comments in the article include the assumption that "Malaysians find it so offensive that those who scream for freedom of speech abuse it time and again by questioning matters that should not be questioned."

Questioning matters that should not be questioned? Surely that is one of the expected consequences of free speech, and the absence of such questions would be cause for concern. And who are the Malaysians he speaks of that are so offended by the practice of free speech? If offence is taken - there are various channels through which we can direct our ire - including the courts, other newsapers, independent media (including weblogs) and art.

One of the most prominent, and ethical, bloggers in the Malaysian scene is described as "somewhat unknown" and prejudiced - this is straightup inyerface slander. Hardly what you would expect from the main Malaysian English daily.

I suggest that the editors and reporters of print media reconsider their future and the validity of their opinions and reported facts with respect to weblogs and other alternative media channels. The media should be and is held accountable to the public, and should behave in a manner that respects that accountability. Right now, Jeff Ooi has far more credibility as a news provider to me than any print media source in Malaysia. He is being indirectly threatened with the Internal Security Act for allowing a comment that is disrespectful to Islam on his site - despite having taken immediate action expressing his disapproval of the comment and banning the commenter.

Of webloggers, Kalimullah Hassan has this to say:
"There are others who repeatedly post lies and untruths and expectantly wait for their minute of fame, hoping that they will be singled out and named in public and then, perversely, become the toast of their peers in the small world they live in and the limited followings they have."

Well then, my peers who read this - Cheers. The statistics of weblogging has peaked over the years, and I'm sure that for every weblogger that gets featured on print media (for after all, isn't that fame to these reporters, that we have our names inked) there are thousands more whose thoughts are never read, never commented upon - often published just to achieve some clarity of thought, to analyse and make sense of the conflicting facts that is often presented to us by the media.

As Hassan himself says, "There must come a time when one must say "enough" to those who disgorge hate and bigotry." - and this time is now. And how would you know who is a bigot and who is not - if they are encouraged to closet their xenophobic fears. Silence doesn't resolve anything, if anything it only causes hate to fester and feed upon itself.

I'd really like to see how this showdown between the common weblog and the traditional media with a presiding government that is uncomfortable with explicit questions, will end up. Are we trusted enough to think for ourselves and decide what we should absorb or discard from the internet - or are we to be continually fed upon sanctioned media fodder?

Related articles:
- Blogger to apologise?
- Malaysia’s Badawi encounters his first hurdle (Daily Times - Pakistan)
- Freedom of Speech in Cyberspace from the Listener's Perspective : Government Protection of Listeners Against Offensive Messages

Note: Kalimullah Hassan is the Group Editor-in-Chief of The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad.