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In the last decade, Internet portals have replaced mainstream media as dominant news providers. With the ease of access to search engines, citizens can access all news from the existing news media.

Today, news articles not only feature investigative work done by journalists but also articles based on statements by opinion leaders or politicians.

Hence, the news media has become a very powerful political instrument to influence the attitudes and perceptions of citizens.

It seems to be a free-for-all situation, as political leaders from opposing ends try to push their political views through news media to leverage on populist sentiments for political mileage.

A classic example would be former information minister Zainuddin Maidin, whose recent comments fanned the fire in the speculated dispute between supporters of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and those of his deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin.

Despite openly admitting he will not comment on politics any more, Zainuddin seems to have worsened matters with his baseless accusation that Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek instructed Puad Zarkashi to use the ‘lazy education minister’ label on DPM Muhyiddin Yassin.

Although he posted an article in his blog where Puad vehemently denied being Shabery’s ‘hatchet man’, it is disappointing to note Zainuddin has not extended an apology, nor has he retracted his baseless accusation.

Zainuddin has a habit of embarrassing himself publicly. In the infamous Al-Jazeera interview , he said police had ‘allowed’ protesters at the first Bersih rally in 2007 to march to Istana Negara to hand over their memo.

Despite being an experienced journalist and a former information minister, Zainuddin fails to tackle the leaked video issue objectively. While Zainuddin unhesitatingly blasts the prime minister in the 1MDB issue, he is silent on pressing problems arising from the lacklustre state of education in the country.

Ever ready in a free-for-all, Zainuddin should realise it should be all for one, in that Malaysians ought to give their support to the government, instead of belittling the status quo with senseless and baseless statements.

If he cannot make any intelligent statement, it is better he keeps to his previous promise of not commenting on political issues, rather than giving clueless and illogical commentaries.

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