I am always surprised by Pakatan Rakyat politicians firing broadsides at the mainstream media in the country.

The latest PR leader to do just that was Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who was enraged by an editorial in the Sunday Star that criticised his government's performance.

He complained the newspaper highlighted "not very good" facts while omitting "good" facts.

Obviously T he Star stands guilty of committing this journalistic sin. Also, obviously, Guan Eng is wasting his emotion and time pointing out the sin to the paper's editors.

He should know The Star is owned by the MCA which is hardly friendly towards him or his party, DAP

.Either you read it, grit your teeth, crush it in your two hands and then throw it forcefully in the nearest litter basket; or you read it, roll your eyes and move on; or you refrain from reading it entirely and enjoy your morning.

Don't rail against The Star . You should expect negative reports about you in the MCA-owned propaganda vehicle just as the MCA expects the same in the Rocket .

I don't hear the MCA bombing your propaganda paper.

Console yourself that readers of The Star who did read the editorial would understand where the paper comes from. Plenty of them now do.

It is also most unfortunate that this kind of reports nowadays never fail to attract commentators in droves who bitterly bash the editors of the newspaper concerned.

If they know The Star is owned and directed by the MCA, why vent your anger at the editors for writing the stuff in the editorial, if indeed they did write it and it was not "contributed" by someone from the party?

Editors of a newspaper that is driven by a political agenda have two options when ordered to publish something that is clearly unfair or unethical: they advise the powers-that-be and then do what they are ordered to do or they step aside. It is a black or white decision.

Of course, there are editors who find the power, perks and privileges that go with their lofty positions very seductive, and they become willing tools. There are many of those. But then again, such people always run with the pack; they never lead.

So, please, Guan Eng and all the commentators, listen to the old advice about barking dogs. People are more likely to fear the silent ones because those bite.