PROPERTY
Zainuddin had on May 2 likened "certain journalists from Thailand and the Philippines" to being the "dog of western media imperialists" during a forum held in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day.
Zainuddin, who did not name the journalists, had also described the situation in the two Asean member countries as "shit" and implied that the people there could only afford to "dream to be like us", referring to Malaysia and Singapore.
Asean, or Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a 10-member regional grouping whose founding members are Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines.
Seapa acting chairperson Chavarong Limpattampanee said in a statement today that Zainuddin's views were "particularly distressing" and that Seapa takes the "strongest exception" to them.
Deplorable and ironic
He said the fact that such remarks were made on the eve of World Press Freedom Day was both deplorable and ironic, and since they came from a "responsible official of the Malaysian government", they did nothing to better the understanding among the peoples of Southeast Asia.
"On the contrary, they (remarks) make the achievements of that goal even more problematic."
He said the fact that Zainuddin refused and seemed unable to name the journalists concerned suggests that he was making a blanket accusation against colleagues in the Philippines and Thailand, whom he had also accused of 'missionary' journalism.
"This is manifestly untrue, and therefore unfair. If in their enthusiasm for press freedom, some Thai and Filipino journalists have been eager to communicate their experience, they are not necessarily trying to impose it on colleagues from other countries.
Insult to journalists
"On the other hand, a commitment to press freedom does not make anyone an agent of 'the western media imperialists' either, and to say otherwise was to insult some of the most competent and principled journalists in the region, many of whom have been critical of the dominance of the western media monopolies over global information.
"It is also to give these 'media imperialists' more credit that they're entitled to," said Chavarong.
He explained that though Seapa was firmly committed to press freedom and free expression, it did not seek to impose its views upon any individual or group, and "neither did it believe that it can do this even if it wanted to".
"If press freedom has been achieved in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand, it is the result of a natural process in those countries. If it will be achieved in others, Seapa holds that it will similarly not be due to any imposition from outside forces but will be the consequence of those political, cultural and other factors particular to every country."
He registered Seapa's recognition of the particularities and differences in the historical experience of both its present members and colleagues in the press and media systems in the region.
Convergence of factors
Chavarong also refuted the implications of Zainuddin's remarks that press freedom was the monopoly of a particular country or group of countries.
He said Seapa's achievement was neither the result of any conspiracy, but of "the convergence of many factors as well as the demonstrated need for it, problematic as its exercise may have been in countries of diverse cultures and histories".
Chavarong conceded that although Seapa took exception to Zainuddin's remarks and deplored the name-calling, it does affirm his right to make statements "no matter how illogical or contrary to the facts they may be".
Seapa, comprising journalists and their organisations from Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia, is committed to the defence, enhancement and achievement of press freedom, and to responsible and meaningful exercise of journalism and other media professions.
It was founded in 1998 on the principle of autonomy of journalists from government, advertiser or political and economic pressure.