Screenshots

Jeff, few people are going to listen to this interview. What is needed is to get this interview transcripted on to print and widely circulated. It should even be translated into BM and circulated. That is about the only way the entire country will know how adept our "leaders" are when put on the spot. The fact that he is basically an idiot is what he is admitting to and yet the bigger idiot keep him as our Information Minister.

I'm surprised the Information Ministry hadn't prepared a statement for the media to cover this eventuality. Was this due to arrogance, that Malaysians are easily cowed; or simply due to sheer incompetence? Either way, our government needs to be honest with themselves - and us!

Additionally, it's interesting that the Information Minister was drawing parallels with Pakistan and Myanmar - it wasn't Al-Jazeera that brought that up, that was brought up by Zam himself. From the TV advertisements (propaganda) shown on RTM, one can only question if this is the position taken by our own government?

minister of misinformation, indeed. very emotional argument with the anchorwoman. =(

why do they all echo that just because we've had clean elections in the past, the future will be no different? such a big talking down to the rakyat.

on a separate note, it will be interesting to see what happens to Al-Jazeera's position in Malaysia from here on.

i was inside my car during the rally and for the first time, i had felt that we all united for the same cause.

if my parents were here, they would be scared like hell and asked me to turn around but since i was alone, i didnt. to be honest, i'm not scared of the ones who is in 'yellow' but the one who is in 'blue'.

the heroes were not the ones who is driven to 'meetings' by drivers but those we brave the rains in the name of democracy. there is hope for malaysia.......i'm proud of being part of malaysian

A case of giving one enough rope to hang one's self.

Brovo Al-Jazeera!

Jeff and rocky + other true bloggers, I would like to say how proud I am to see the content of the Malaysian bloggers publishing the true colors of Malaysian politics.

I salute you, Rocky and others for standing up for the rakyat. Congtratulations to you in apprearing in al Jazeera - we the pro-reform team must always appear on other means of media ! Don't let any of local TV make coverage of our program since they will manipulated the facts like hell! Poor rakyat Malaysia who are being cowed by the so-called demo-kerasi gomen.

I enjoyed reading your blog and many others. We should all fight for the future sake of Malaysia without being caught up to races, but must adhere to certain acceptable/respectable norms. I will monitor the process of "toppling" the current government afar, (from middle east). Keep on your good work !

Please go to Malaysiakita for photos links. Scroll down to "Historic Moments" below the blue ad. Thank you.

check out this announcement

http://www.tm.net.my/tmnet2006/contents/corporate/news_details.cfm?id=1396&type=News&pg=1

service upgrade or news blackout ?

Jeff

I agree with Observer.

If someone can kindly make a transcript, it would be most helpful.

It can then be circulated widely.

Idiocy should also be acknowledged.

We had excused Maidin for appearing obnoxious and stupid at the sametime in the local media.

Now that he had made himself an absolute ass in the international media, he should be acknowledged as such since he IS the country's INFORMATION MINISTER.

It is a testimony of the depth of stupidity we have in the UMNO cabinet.

Jeff, a posted transcript of that interview is really needed.

Can someone having access to that interview please help.

credit:forum.cari.com.my

zam: for (your?) man you you.. youre journalist trying to project and exhibit more than what actually happened.. that.. that.. that it, we are laughing at the.. the.. i congratulate your journalist behaving like an actor.. very good actor*

aljazeera: as you say that sir we were watching scene of protestor being sprayed by*.. chemical fell both side..

zam: yeah im watching, i hear.. you see () you trying to do it everywhere but in Malaysia people are laugh at you, you know.. you know our powliss at last our (folig?) as have aaa.. what aa.. a lot of procession? to go to.. Istana Nagara.. you know.. do powliss, third powliss (amende ni?) might be handle them with a tear gas equip (?) powliss dont dont dont fire any anybody.. *

both talked

aljazeera: our correspondent came by to our office sir, with (inaudible) close in his eyes.

zam: (talk while aljazeera talked) bla.. bla.. bla.. your your idea is you trying to project what is your mind you think that we pakistan, we are burma, we are myanmar even that you thinking* we are different totally different, we are not like you

aljazeera: well unfortunately but you refused to let people demonstrate (inaudible) disappear(?) sir..

zam: im afraid you have early perception you come here you want to project us like undemocratic country, this is a democratic country. right?

aljazeera: so why cant people protest then if its a democratic country?

zam: yeah, people protest..do, first they protest, we are allowing protest, and they are demonstrator, but we are just trying to disper them, and then later they dont disper.. but later our powliss compromise, the have compromise and allowed them to Istana Nagara, powliss, our powliss has succeded in link them. *CUT*

continue..

zam: right? why do you report that and you take the opposition, someone from opposition party you ask him to speak? you dont take from the government? right?

aljazeera: why did you not break up this protest more peacefully? (few times)

zam: pardon.. pardon.. pardon.. i cant hear you.. i cant hear you.. no we.. we are.. this this.. this is illegal.. we dont want this..? normally, ive been bla bla..* haloo

aljazeera: ok, let to (inaudible) my former question, why this protest illegal?

zam: yeah it is illegal protest (aljazeera:why?) because we have election in Malaysia. is no no point of having a protest.. we are allowing we have every election, every 5 years never failed.. we not are like myanmar, not like other country, and you are helping this.. you aljazeera also helping this this causes, the, you know, this causes that who are not feel patient, who do not believe in democracy.. right..

aljazeera: okay, many thanks for joining us..

zam: yeah you are alja*.. this is aljazeera ejaekldfrj (inaudible) right? (ape dia ngarut?)

now that he has officially made an arse of himself on air, can we officially call him a monkey?

I laughed and cackled at the video. Oh such emotional stupidity displayed by the MoI.

This needs to be circulated far and wide and people need to be made AWARE of how our country is run by morons. Nuff said.

Hi Jeff, I have uploaded your AlJazeera interview to youtube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPyeAMBpd-A&watch_response

I am not sure if anyone have uploaded a clearer version or not.

Well done!

Folks

Titled: "Malaysia's Version of "THE VILLAGE IDIOT"

This was meant for the defacto Law Minister, posted here: http://malaysianunplug.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysias-version-of-village-idiot.html

Looks like Malaysia has more than ONE Village idiot.

Quoted in "Word Detective" for the meaning of a Village Idiot. Note the last sentence in the article below:

"The earliest known use in print comes in George Bernard Shaw's "Major Barbara," written in 1907 ("I myself have had a village idiot exhibited to me as something irresistibly funny").

Underlying the term is the supposition (especially popular among urban sophisticates) that each small country village must have one exceptionally simple resident who serves as the butt of jokes and provides endless amusement for the townsfolk. But, like many stereotypes of rural life, the legend of the lone "Village Idiot" is unfair and inaccurate.

Many villages have two or three, and sometimes we even elect them to public office."

Zainuddin Maidin has just voted himself into the VILLAGE IDIOT category from Malaysia.

This guy is a f*****g embarassment!

If ZAM is out of job, maybe he can apply to be next Iraqi Information Minister... ohh I forgot Saddam is gone... good luck

Folks

Transcript of the interview is here: Thanks to "Present Point Power" Blog

http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2007/11/transcript-zam-al-jazeera-radio.html

You got to read it.

Ministerial idiocy must be acknowledged

In case you haven't found out yet...

You HAVE to be an idiot to join UM...NO... and the biggest idiot among them is then elected the Information Minister!

That's why we have the likes of Mohd Rahmat and Zam!

It is a most unbecoming slur on a fellow journalist from one who claims to be a journalist himself no less.

I QUOTE:
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/4C0A5C17-4CC7-4F5B-A80E-EA16C6CE89C2.htm

Hamish Macdonald joined Al Jazeera English from the UK's Channel Four News, where he built his career as a news producer.

At Channel Four Hamish worked on coverage of major stories including the Asian tsunami and the London bombings.

Prior to moving to the UK Hamish worked as a reporter for WIN television in Canberra.

Since joining Aljazeera, Hamish has reported from locations including Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

ENDQUOTE

Other references on other sites (unverified as yet) make it appear that Mr. MacDonald has reported from the ground in war-torn Afghanistan and Iraq, no less.

Therefore, we are not dealing with some wet-behind-the-ears cub reporter despite reports that he is quite young. http://crankshafted.blogspot.com/2007/11/hamish-macdonald-of-al-jazeera.html

So, What's next to mitigate the faux pas? The Rocky response? I don't understand English very well?

Perhaps, it would be even better if Screenshots contacted Mr. MacDonald for his side of the story.

After all, there was an accusation of one-sided journalism, wasn't there?

Ministers of Information throughout the world will, from time to time, be required to face the world's press to articulate his country's or ruling administration's point of view. The job requires someone who can speak rationally and possess a reasonably good command of English. Zam's performance was embarrassing at best. AAB cannot even pick the right person for this job. How can he doing bigger things like running a country?

ZAM's english is terrible! Minister of Information. Blah!

My mistake. wrong boxer reference in previous message. Should've been the guy with the Iron Mike nickname.

Saw on the news this evening that the dastardly rally participants used children as shields!!! The IGP appeared shocked and horrified when he spoke about it, that this should happen, and that the dreadful demonstrators could stoop so low.

I am confused. While I wasn't at the rally, I've trawled the net checking out the video clips, and I couldn't see children anywhere.

hmmm. perhaps all the foreign media are (as suggested by our MoI) anti-government, and by extension, in cahoots with the bloggers / protestors / demonstrators / opposition. They, like the bloggers, obviously carefully filtered out any shots of children being used in this way.

Methings this is a serious development. Whatever the truth, if this is the story that is being fed through the mainstream media, it is very difficult to counter - any normal, reasonable thinking person would think twice about supporting any movement that made use of children in such a way. It's all in the packaging and spin.

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the updates on pre/post BERSIH rally. You have certainly made us Malaysians from afar proud of being anak Bangsa Malaysia. Kudos to you also for the commendable task of outlining clear and succinct information on a fair electoral system request in the recent AlJazeera interview....a stark contrast to ZAM's appalling and embarrassing outcry (typical U**O's defensive mindset).

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the updates on pre/post BERSIH rally. You have certainly made us Malaysians from afar proud of being anak Bangsa Malaysia. Kudos to you also for the commendable task of outlining clear and succinct information on a fair electoral system request in the recent AlJazeera interview....a stark contrast to ZAM's appalling and embarrassing outcry (typical U**O's defensive mindset).

You guys could refer to Kenny Sia's blog for the full transcript via www.kennysia.com

OMG. We have a Minister that talks like [ DELETED ]. I am embarassed to think that we have people like that representing us in the international arena.

We're concerned with the real problems, but they are preoccupied with the length of Air Asia stewardess' skirts. Maybe that's all there is in their minds.