NSTP's take on Brendan/Albom controversy:
Apolitical (or "A political?) version in theSun
The Page 2 story in theSun today is not about the NST Group Editor's suspected plagiarism of Mitch Albom's September 10 column.
On the contrary, it's about quoting the NSTP CEO who damned the BBC's way of reporting what's happening to Malaysian journalism and passing the bill to the Abdullah-Mahathir political tussle. Quote:
Reports that Brendan was stepping down as group editor because he allegedly plagiarised the Detroit Free Press author's article was reported by BBC News yesterday.
They had picked up on allegations made in several websites that had in recent months been having a running battle with the NST over the spat between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The BBC report stated that Pereira's Oct 30 column had become the target of Internet commentators who urged him to quit.
theSun also quoted NSTP CEO Syed Faizal Albar in the way he defended Pereira. Faizal said "the company did not agree that Pereira had plagiarised the work of author Mitch Albom when he (Pereira) used a sentence in his article which appeared in the NST on October 30, 2006".
Do we take it as an admission of Periera's lifting without attribution? While we detected eight spots of "resemblance", is this admission of "but one sentence" a mitigating appeal?
Politics & Timing
Faizal was also quoted by theSun on the timing of The NSTP announcing Pereira's exit. You have to search your grey matter to discern whether that had been a corporate blunder. Faizal said in theSun:
"We wanted to do it (announce Pereira'sresignation) before the (Umno annual general) assembly because we did not want supporters of Mahathir to attack the NST executive."
It's indeed very unfair for Faizal to single out Pereira as the only target of disgruntled Umno members. Umno members who are angry with The NST are largely aiming their anger at both Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan and Pereira. not either one of them. I am sure Mahathir and his faction can testify to this.
So, by taking just Pereira out of The NST won't do the magic, and Kalimullah who remains as The NSTP Deputy Chairman and Editorial Advisor will stand out like a sore thumb in the eyes of disgruntled Umno members.
Blogger Nik Nazmi has a take on this:
But if they really want to stand by their man, surely the establishment’s most trusted spin doctors could do something better than plan Brendan Perreira’s stepping down amdist this controversy? Politics is after all about perception and timing - and this got it wrong on both counts.
Finally, Faizal was asked about against the websites and he was quoted by theSun as saying: "We are looking into that."
Climate of fear for whistle-blowers?
Intentionally & Consciously
Coming back to the core issue of whether Pereira has INTENTIONALLY and CONSCIOUSLY lifted Albom without attribution -- a sin in journalism -- why can't Pereira speak up for himself?
Why must spin-doctors speak for another spin-doctor?
For context, compare para-by-para -- PDF here -- Pereira and Albom's articles, which were published 50 days apart and Albom's was the earlier version, and judge for yourself. The NST has not dared doing it to enlighten its readers.
Comments
Brendan tiru kerja mat saleh,
sanggup meniru kerana benci,
Nak kutuk Tun M memang boleh,
Tapi jgnla sampai membakar diri
Brendan dan Zakaria memang cemerlang,
menjerit emosi penuh keyakinan,
bila terbongkar terus menghilang,
tau tau dah letak jawatan.
Sepandai pandai tupai melompat,
Dalam zoo negara ia tetap berada,
Mengutuk Tun M tanpa had,
Sekarang tau siapa tak beriwibawa.
Posted by: zaryl![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 3, 2006 11:48 AM
Folks
Sad.
NST management behaving like bureaucrats.
Somehow these characters running NST cannot think of the box.
Behave at least like a newspaper.
Posted by: Frank&Honest![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 3, 2006 12:03 PM
To say that just because Albom's article was not about malaysia's PM, so it was not plagiarism is plain silly!
If you are influenced by Al Gore's "The Inconvenient Truth" and decide to write about global warming - that's fine. But if you lift any of his text or passages, that is plagiarism.
Similarly, to write the book you either do your own research or if you decide to rely on published ones you better quote and acknowledge your source(s).
Actually I am preaching to the converts - if no one had noticed BP would have escaped scot free, wouldn't he?
With NST's latest action he is certain to be more famous (or should I say notorious)!
Posted by: Pak Mail![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 3, 2006 12:28 PM
Little wonder the NST has been on the decline in circulation year after year.
Posted by: caribenar![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 3, 2006 01:40 PM
Folks
If Star is smart, it should capitalise on NST's misfortune to collect more advertisements and readership subscription.
Likely not, as Star is owned by MCA... and castrated MCA has lost its voice and ....
Posted by: Frank&Honest![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 3, 2006 01:56 PM
zaryl, thanks for your pantun. It rocks!
Now NST is suing BBC, we're really putting our country on the world map. Can anybody say Malaysia Boleh?
Posted by: MISHUGINA![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 3, 2006 01:57 PM
The man at the centre of the storm - some say it's a storm in a teacup but I disagree - is conspicuously silent. Wonder where he is hiding now. Brendan must now come out in the open to admit his journalistic sin.
Posted by: sorespot![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 3, 2006 02:15 PM
Brendan maintaining his elegant silent. May appear after his X'mas vacation kot.
Brendy, thanks for putting our country on the map tho' you're from lil' red dot.
Posted by: mahisasura![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 3, 2006 04:04 PM
Folks
Malaysia has a unique way of getting notice internationally.
3 years ago, it was when the UMNO Youth instigated the police to raid Malaysiakini and confiscate 19 computers.
Now is it is NST's turn to get BBC's coverage.
Funny, there is an axis of NST and UMNO Youth ie Kallimullah Hassan and the Son In Law, both are mutally reinforcing partners in politics-influencing and in business.
Posted by: Frank&Honest![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 3, 2006 07:00 PM
The only thing I can see attributed to Brendan is from the 'updated' BBC story :
"Mr Pereira told the BBC that his departure had been agreed with the paper two weeks before the publication of the controversial article."
If that's what he really thinks, and he's hoping that this sidestep someone pleases everyone while saving face for himself, I venture to say he's mistaken.
I think yesterday we were almost content to let him resign in peace. After Dtk Syed Faisal's nonsense, I'm not so sure I won't want to hear from his own mouth whether or not he committed plagiarism.
And yes, print the comparison if you dare. Berani kerana benar.. you know the rest.
Posted by: nat![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 3, 2006 08:10 PM
IMHO, BP resignation is just matter of time.
No.1 reason : BP not UMNO member. ;)
Posted by: moo_t![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 3, 2006 09:02 PM
A stepping-stone is provided and to safeguard the entirety of NST and UMNO by triggering on the plagiarism. However, they missed and not appreciate, yet take it too "easily" that resulted the “maruah” of our country at stake. What a guy.
A Director role is to give a cue but not taking any cue from others, Right?
Too much of a cloud and make your day dizzy.
Posted by: BaganSPU![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 4, 2006 11:02 AM