Screenshots: All-out war on ZAM,Berita Harian implicates TV2 Mandarin News;'NST to get 2-week ban in worse case scenario'

Watch out for NSTP Group EIC Hishmauddin Aun (picture below) and the puppeteer behind. Brace yourself, Malaysia's witch-hunting season has just begun!

While The NST appears to offer its 'unreserved apology' and announces its police report on a blog over the Han Sequitur cartoon it twice published and hurt the Muslims' feeling, Berita Harian declares an all-out war on the Minister of Information Zainuddin Maidin, blaming him for non-action over what it alleged as allowing RTM's Mandarin News in TV2 for airing the blesphemous Danish caricature of Prophet Muhammad on February 3 and getting away scot-free.

SOURCE: Berita Harian, February 24, 2006

However,al though The NST tells its readers in the print version that it is telling all that it has told the Internal Security Ministry, the portion implicating TV2 Mandarin News was only availale on the online version, running eight additional paragraphs.

Berita Harian, quoting The NST's reply to a show-cause letter from the Internal Security Ministry, says RTM has aired the caricatures in a government TV channel under the direct administration of "the country's most experienced journalist, Zainuddin Maidin, who was the deputy Information Minister at the material time".

The NST also asked the government whether appropriate actions should be taken against Zainuddin, or his ex-boss, former Informastion Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, or his former colleague, former deputy Information Minsiter Donald Lim Siang Chai for letting off TV2.

Summarily, with a little bit of arm-twisting the government and a lttle raise in the poker stake, The NST editors wanted a fair deal working to their favour so that everybody could walk away free.

If you remember well, the fate of Sarawak Tribune and Guang Ming are now big cold slabs in history. Don't call it double standards, but Toman Mamara finally took his "honourable retirement" for the mistake his editor did in Sarawak Tribune while Guang Ming bit the bullets for being suspended for two weeks and moved on.

Yes, memory is that short but nobody had pleaded clemency, the same way they did RTM and the ministers, on the journalists' behalf at that time.

Domestic delinquency in Umno

Last night, Screenshots has warned that Umno, which owns The NSTP Group of newspapers, is facing a serious matter of household delinquency that, if left unresolved, will negatively impact the party president and his deputy, both sequentially and consequentially, and even conversely.

I hope my grave concern is heard by the Umno chieftains and grassroots. Do the right thing. Rein in your traitors from within.

UPDATES: Malaysiakini reported a source story last night saying that Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan, in his capacity as the NSTP Group deputy chairperson and editorial adviser, assured editors and journalists that there was no cause for alarm.

Kalimullah was reported to have reiterated that the cartoon was not offensive and that the board of directors at a meeting this morning agreed to back the daily's editors.

"Even in the worst case scenario, he said the suspension would not last more than two weeks," Malaysiakini reported.

Meanwhile, the CEO's office at The NSTP Group has issued an urgent staff advisory in anticipation of a peaceful demonstration to be staged by PAS members in front of Balai Berita after the Friday prayers this morning. I am reproducing it for my friends and readers in Jalan Riong who may have missed the advisory in their course of work. Read on for more details.

Staff Advisory from NSTP CEO's Office
We learned that a public demonstration against New Straits Times is planned to be held tomorrow Friday February 24th 2006 commencing after Friday Prayers in front of our Balai Berita Bangsar office.

Following this, the Company has decided on precautionary security measures and all staff are advised to follow the advisory below.

1. All Balai Berita Entrance & Exit Gates will be closed from 1:30pm and will remain closed until situation permits itself. No vehicles will be allowed to enter or exit Balai Berita during this period of closure. Please call (03) 2282-3131 or check your email (where relevant) for information on the reopening of Entrance and Exit Gates.

2. We understand that the Police will close Jalan Riong to ALL traffic from 1:30pm. NO VEHICLES will be allowed to enter or exit Jalan Riong until the Police reopens the road.

3. Plan your work schedule with the above road and gate closures in mind:

a. Staff are strongly discouraged to set appointments in Balai Berita with outside parties in the afternoon. Please reorganize your scheduled meetings to another date.
b. Leave Balai Berita before 1:30pm if you have outside appointments in the afternoon;
c. Ensure all third party guests leave Balai Berita before 1:30pm;
d. Everyone will be denied entry into Balai Berita area during the Police road closures. The Police may redirect traffic to use detour roads.
e. Staff who are denied entry to Balai Berita are advised to stay away from the area until Balai Berita area is cleared by the Police. Please call (03) 2282-3131 or check your email (where relevant) for information on the reopening of Entrance and Exit Gates.

4. Staff are not allowed to loiter around Balai Berita perimeters. All staff in Balai Berita building are required to remain indoor at their workplace. Staff found loitering will be directed by Security Personnel to return to their workplace. For your safety, please follow the instructions of our Security Personnel without question.

5. Staff cars parked along Jalan Riong and Jalan Liku are advised to remove their ‘NST Car Park’ stickers. It is highly encouraged to avoid parking along Jalan Riong and Jalan Liku to avoid unnecessary damage against your vehicle.

6. The Company will make extra car park space allocation at the Roof Top (6th Floor), utilizing the all the sports facility area at the Roof Top. Please use these allocated space.

7. No cars are allowed to be parked in the ‘tunnel’ or ‘driveway’ area.

8. Staff are strongly advised to remain calm and composed and do not provoke or antagonise the demonstrators.

9. For security purposes, staff are advised not to wear or display (eg: shirts, caps, newspapers, briefcase, stickers, etc) that may be associated with NSTP, NSTP brands (i.e: NST, Berita Harian, Malay Mail or Harian Metro) on Friday February 24th 2006.

10. Should building evacuation exercise be necessary, please follow the proper evacuation procedures. (Please refer to Section 7 Evacuation Plan & Fire Prevention in your NSTP Corporate Information Directory i.e the ‘Black Directory Book’ containing also the pictures of all employees).

11. As a stern advice, staff are strictly prohibited from participating in the demonstration in any form; failing which disciplinary action shall be taken against the staff.

Comments

Once is a mistake but twice? Arrogance or outright defiance?

Posted by: clk | February 24, 2006 08:41 AM

mungkin sebab beliau baik dengan KJ dan Pak Lah maka Kali merasakan beliau kebal.

Posted by: aminyatim | February 24, 2006 08:53 AM

Why is Malaysia always looking for trouble? Why are we always seeking attention for ourselves?

There are bigger problems than this in the world. People are starving, people are hungry.

This is making the headlines when the bird-flu is threatening lives is our country?

It's just petty. Move on and get a life!

Posted by: regularguy | February 24, 2006 09:10 AM

Think about it. All the fuss over a name. All the killing just to protect the sanctity of a name.

I like what one reader said, "if the name is as sacred as it is put out to be. Ban everyone from using it for themselves." Who do these people think they are? Reincarnation of a Holy Prophet? Better still, death penalty for all criminals who bear the name of the prophet for it defies its holiness.

Furthermore, I think the NST should not have apologised. Fired the editor, suspended the licenses. Yes. But for a newspaper to apologise is an abomination to the notion of the independance of press from politics. And all this is happening when NST was picking up steam on theStar. There was great expectations on the new management at NST. Has it all gone to waste now?

Posted by: regularguy | February 24, 2006 09:19 AM

isunya kat sini, Jika dulu NST dan Kali membesar satu komen pengunjung di blog ini sehingga didesak pihak berkuasa mengambil tindakan terhadap Jeff Ooi, mengapa pula orang lain tidak membesarkan satu isu yang diterbitkan oleh NSTP dan kemudiannya dipertahankan oleh pengarang kanannya?

Posted by: aminyatim | February 24, 2006 09:19 AM

To YAB Pak Lah,

Please consider the good things that NST have done for the country... for educating English to the school children... for all the programmes in sowing the interest in education to the young.

Don't let these people with personal differences with NST, opposition political agenda and even your own UMNO representative seeking personal glory to influence your judgement.

Don't deprive our millions of youngsters of good learning from NST just to satisfy a few glory seekers.

Thank you Pak Lah.

Posted by: YgArif | February 24, 2006 09:29 AM

Yg Arif..whatever is wrong will be wrong..you cannot mitigate by saying NST teach English..

let say you know a robber..but at times he gives his ill gotten gains to charity..so you let him off even when you caught him red handed stealing?

Teaching English?? Haha...I gor my education in school especially my English..if NST is teaching English..maybe they should consider closing the press and start regular classes.

I read today's unreserved apology ...unreserved means unreserved...but in the next para..yet blame it on the readers. NST is all to blame becos the printed the cartoon again.

Once is a mistake..twice...means you don't give a shit.

Hang the editor like the rest..no double standards

Posted by: art chan | February 24, 2006 10:03 AM

Art Chan,

What was the mistake?

Your options:

1. Getting Putrajaya upset?
2. Printing the name of the prophet? (refer to my comment on ppl also using the name)
3. Printing the cartoon during a time of unrest in other parts of the world?
4. Printing the cartoon twice or not giving a shit? If it was just once would that have been alright?
5. Offering a reserved apology?
6. Practicing free press?
7. Being politically correct and religiously sensitive? Is the NST a political paper or a religous one? How about Screenshots?
8. Or is it just a case of permissible but not beneficial?

If Screenshots or Malaysia-Today were in print instead of being blogs, wouldn't they be under the same category of 'wrong' as described by you?

Posted by: regularguy | February 24, 2006 10:32 AM

Yg Arif, it was tongue in cheek, wasn't it? Art Chan didn't see the humour.

Posted by: samvellu | February 24, 2006 10:35 AM

Isn't is amusing to watch this sandiwara create by the political craze personal?

In Day 1, NST should have make clear their standing of press republish rights, important of press freedom, etc, than conclusively nail down the competitive paper to echo some of the irrational claims. Yes, it will take pages to explain the reason of western media republish the cartoon; point out the over-reaction mobs and questioning the motives.

And the media should know the consequences carried out the yellow journalism practice.

For anyone who are apologist over NST actions, if the wikipedia reading is too "heavy" for you, you can always grasp it by watching the James Bond movie "Tommorow never dies".

NST choose to apologise for "insensitive" cartoon than apologizing their failling roles to educates mass to think; throwing stone on ST and guanming; show a clear sign of yellow journalism in practice.

Posted by: moo_t | February 24, 2006 10:37 AM

A bunch of cartoons has now become a witchhunt. It is only a bunch of stupid cartoons and some idiots making noise, running riots, burning buildings.

Holding others hostage to acts of violence is not something I would want to be associated with!

Where do you see people from other faiths running riot and amok when their religion is being insulted. Some people just do not know how to ignore.

Now it has become a witch hunt!

Posted by: Dangerous Variable | February 24, 2006 10:38 AM

Jeff Ooi said:"Meaningful days are looming ahead for Malaysians who do care for the wellbeing of this country. Brace yourself, Malaysia's witch-hunting season has just begun."

Jeff, I warned you about your karma didn't I? So now, stop talking about witching hunting and still feign innocence when deep down you know that you have sowed the seeds of discord and hatred, stirred up unhealthy emotions, inciting and flaming matters and instigated the whole thing.

Better go running to your lawyers whom you have used so often to intimidate others eg.the "Natgeo" guy and really find out the consequences of the offence under the Penal Code for which the report has been lodged against you.
And don't go running to RSF or other international press organizaations for help as they all know what you did and they are NOT stupid or blind.
This time you really asked for it, and they are coming for you and do you still expect them to show that restraint as in the past when you yourself were so unrestrained in your instigation.

At least the NST is man enough to apologise openly.

What about you Jeff? Do you have the balls to do the same or you have to borrow someone's balls to do that?

Posted by: watchinguiam | February 24, 2006 10:38 AM

What kind of newspaper is that...? After apologize, and still want to take people down together with them to the grave. Where are they when ST and Guang Ming is in trouble? Did they mentioned the RTM example to the government to help both ST and GM?

It shows that behind the apology, there is a vendetta. So, this is the vendetta they are talking about la...

Posted by: geovanni | February 24, 2006 10:39 AM

BTW, why local papers itself fail to point out the facts that some religious forbid worshipping of figurine/symbol?

Posted by: moo_t | February 24, 2006 10:54 AM

Well at least PAS didn't do any demonstrations in front of Danish embassy. If I open a drink stall near Jalan Riong, sure laku.

For a stupid cartoon strip that makes fun of the current situation, we get this kind of response. Why didn't the same thing happen during the squat-gate? I hate religious politics.

Posted by: aredale | February 24, 2006 11:07 AM

and I dont give a rat's ass what's going to happen to Jalan Riong. It's all drama no action, to keep the voters happy (I meant to say tax payers, but I don't vote for them yet im paying for it). I mean if the goverment is serious about shutting down NST, they could just do the same thing they did with ST. Am I right?

Posted by: aredale | February 24, 2006 11:18 AM

TV3 apa jadi?

Posted by: C-Fu | February 24, 2006 11:33 AM

Guess what guys,Pak Lah just announced NST subject closed.NO ACTION TAKEN.

Posted by: serpico | February 24, 2006 11:47 AM

Posted by: serpico | February 24, 2006 11:48 AM

I actually admire Kali for standing by his decision. Not many people would do that, even in a newspaper with political backing.

Posted by: hann | February 24, 2006 12:14 PM

The Star says:

"PM accepts apology, no action against NST"

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/2/24/nation/20060224115022&sec=nation

This acceptance has so many meanings that I can't even begin mentioning them.