While I agree that trial by media on personal morality should not be condoned, I also strongly protest the blackout

of the Puteri Umno chief controversy by the New Straits Times, Star, Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian .

The blackout is the extreme opposite of the mainstream medias action where the alleged sexual misconduct of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim was concerned. Then, the media, backed and fanned by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, went all out to pre-judge and attack Anwar personally. Why the total silence now? Is it because Azalina Othman is no political threat to Mahathir, while Anwar was and still is?

The trial by media in the Anwar case was, and is still certainly wrong and unethical because he had no chance to defend himself. He was locked up first under the Internal Security Act (ISA), tortured and then refused bail. The mainstream media should apologise to Anwar.

The situation now is different. Azalina and her alleged partner have come out to defend themselves against the allegations made by Perdana Sari . Azalina can move around physically in complete freedom and she could, if she chooses, sue Perdana Sari . Why does the mainstream media continue to black out the controversy?

What the mainstream media should do is to report truthfully and objectively, without resorting to sensationalism, both sides of the story. Blacking out altogether the controversy would only fuel the credibility of the tabloids and rumour-mongers.

On the contrary, if the mainstream media report the controversy truthfully and in a balanced manner, with Azalina taking effective actions to defend herself through the normal legal processes, such as lodging police reports against Perdana Sari for publishing false news or suing it for libel and defamation, its damage to Umno and Barisan Nasional would be reduced considerably.