Screenshots

Ha ha ha.

As I opened todays NST and stared at the second page column at the bottom left; I had to laugh much to my parents curiosity at the breakfast table.

And with all the posts I've read on your blog in regards to the recent blatant plagiarism that he did to Mitch Albom; I wasn't suprised.

I guess the board of directors don't need a tarnished journalist's reputation in the NST's ranks anymore. 'Damaged goods' as I've read in the previous blog posts.

"There had been many crying-wolves about Brendan leaving The NST in the last two years, but he stayed on because PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi still needed him, or so the media circle says."

I presume that the press/media 'needed' him with that subtle touch of biasness in all the commentary made; be it social, political and economical. I call it 'positive propaganda generation' for certain upper levelled authorities within the government. What can be more fancy than having someone 'polish' your public reputation via a column commentary?

Potentially off topic: Will the departure of Brendan bring about change to the NST?

Sounds like a great birthday present for someone! :-) Cheers.

This is nothing to do with Brenda "journalism practice", after all, GEC for political papers like NST are political driven.

All I see is one warlord replace by another : Old wine new bottle.

Should NST going down the drain, there will be bailed out from tax payer money. And don't ever think those blessed one like King-Z and prince Putera-K will channel a single cents from their fat coffer.

Well, just popped by to wish you a happy birthday. ^_^

The news was fun today. It made me laugh after many many months of frowning.

Let's be fair and salute Brendan for doing the honourable thing and resigning. Looks like only non-Bumis have resigned so far. There are so many politico who commmitted and continue to commit far greater trangressions, but they are still sitting pretty.

Starting with the pensioner who is still on the Government/GLC's payroll and yet has the gall and gumption to criticise the same.

I too followed with interest the allegation of Brendan Pereira's supposed plagiarism of Mitch Albom's article in the US.

However, after reading and comparing the two writings, I find it to be an unfair accusation. Although, the style of writing was very similar, one cannot exactly say it was plagiarism as the content of the articles were not the same.

For a charge of plagiarism to stick, he has to steal more ie. the same idea/fact.

Albom wrote his on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. He used that style of writing to reminisce the days before the attack while BP used the same style to talk about the days before Tun Mahathir's spat with Pak Lah.

As such, the content, intention and opinion of both the articles are very different in nature.

Yes, the style is very alike. But at most, one can only accuse BP for the lack of originality. But writing is such an endeavour that it is near impossible to come up with 'original' styles every single day.

A simple test would be to google books, songs, poems etc which start with the ever green phrase "Once upon a time" and you will see the literally thousands of hits returned.

Anyone who writes for a living will testify how difficult and what a struggle it is to come up with original stuff every day. Although, this is not an excuse, but this point should be taken into context before a charge of style plagiarism is levelled at someone.

Another thing is, just because the allegations came from self-appointed media watchdog Jeff Ooi and disgruntled ex-journalist Rocky (bloggers who can hardly be said to be neutral when it comes to the News Straits Times, Kallimullah, Gunasegaram, The Edge, The Star and The Sun etc), the accusations must be taken with a huge dollop of salt.

For more, please refer to http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml

Note: This was originally meant for Malaysiakini but either there was a email problem or they chose not to publish it. Sorry if it's seen to be repeated

JEFF OOI says: What you said of Malaysiakini is inaccurate. Malaysiakini did publish your letter here: http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/58934.

Folks

Brendan Pereira did the right thing to resign... for his own good and reputation.

I give him credit for doing this.

We wish him all the best in his other future undertakings.

Mistakes are made, and we all do, and we and he should just move on.

Case closed.

Jeff, this story made it to BBC!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6108666.stm

quote:
"However, the government has promised not to censor the internet and it appears that Malaysia's online watchdogs have claimed their first major scalp."

heh!

jeff, i emailed your blog & bbc's article to brendan's previous employer. hope it helps in his resume update. :D

Hi buaya69

Thanks for the link to BBC News.

Well done, Jeff and the community of bloggers!

You are now my heroes.

After all my fears this would be swept under the carpet, action at last - I'm relieved.

I wouldn't say it's a full victory, as there has been no public acknowledgment of the crime; but, it is a step in the right direction for sure, and at least impunity did not completely rule the day.

Mr/Ms. Chan: I would agree completely with your stance if there had been the *slightest* mention of Mr. Albom anywhere in BP's article. Both a writer's content and his style is his livelihood - a livelihood one that should not be stolen.

But overall, I'm basically with Frank&Honest with this one - Good luck BP, farewell.

ps- buaya, great catch on the BBC bit; it's the most prominent coverage of this so far!

pps- guess it's jeff's birthday? have a great one sir, many happy returns :)

My apologies to Malaysiakini...as I did not find it there this morning! The error is regretted

But we must give a chance to Brendan to defend.

He should speak his word out

Dear Mr Jeff OOi,

I found that you blog condemning Brendan Pereira on the subject of plagiaism amusing.

You are losing your head over this incident. It seems to me that you are perhaps over-reacting or taking revenge on him.

You preach journalism while you are merely a blogger in real-lfe, not a professional journalist, but a true mercenary carries thought and propoganda by interested parties . Again , you are showing to us that you developed inferior complexity recently.

You invite us to marshall with you to uphold true journlism but real-life your blog carries only prejustice comments , especially condemming Indian , Maxis and Astro

Of course , you are not a plagiaist. In fact you are a professional lobbyist carries others' hidden agenda.

I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner (yes, I admit that I am a plagiaist, I copied every words quoted by Dr Hannibal Lecter)

Happy birthday and send my regards to you little birds

JEFF OOI says: Hello n4wijcvu@213.42.2.23, get out from the Dubai route and we can talk.

A sad day and bad portfolio for Malaysian. Is this how others will view Malaysians in the future?

Hope our leader is smart to recognize positive contributions of Malaysian and glorify it, not those who only please the leader.

Well, bad tree will produce bad fruits. NST should apologize for Bredan's fault, if NST is truly a responsible press. Drop the rotten one as if nothing has happened will only produce another rotten one. Fix at the root level.

Am I asking too much?

CoreTwo, Yes, Jeff has his own agenda. It is called "Thinking Allowed. Thinking Aloud."

Nobody can be on two sides of the coin at the same time. Both good and bad are happening around you, and you are allowed to think by yourself which you want to accept and support.

I do not support your comment to Jeff. Neither do you support my comment. You have eye and ear to see and hear by yourself.

What I love about Jeff is that he is one of the few bloggers that has the balls to expose and write what he sees (in which case most of us sees but does not have the balls to say) is wrong. It is about proper governance. Many of us are so glad of what he has done to expose bad governance and others such and one of this, is unfortunately, Brendan's plagiarism. But, Brendan is guilty is he not?

So, Jeff, and to other bloggers like him, "THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH". Without you great bloggers out there who became the watchdogs of good governance, there will be more corruptions, more skeletons in the closets and more god knows what!

BTW, Jeff, if you want some proof that Astro has screwed up again on their billings this time, talk to me.

I am glad I have people like Jeff Ooi to expose bad governance as little people like me are being swept under the carpet when we complaint to and about the govt or to the likes of big corporations like Astro.

Please carry on the good work Jeff! For every idiot that complain against you, there are a thousand who appreciate and praises you.

Keep up the excellent work buddy!

It tells you a lot of his character and thinking, this Brendan Plagiara. After all this time, he had it coming and it comes good. Karma,we too someday. However, so far confirm he make a good lap dog for those who like to "angkat" and "bodek" type. I'm sure he'll find employment somewhere else. Just carry the lesser of the 2 balls..that's all.