Information Ministry parliamentary secretary Zainuddin Maidin (popularly known as Zam) wants the public to believe that he has "no political ambition".

"I do not want to contest in the general election. I am a journalist. When the time comes, I will quit (sounds familiar?)," so says he ( Star , Oct 10).

Yet, no one has been so busy planning and producing political propaganda aimed mainly at denigrating the opposition — PAS in particular — than Zam.

The opposition has crowned him Malaysia's " de facto minister of propaganda", and DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang has decorated him with the title of " Josef Goebbels of Malaysia".

Alas, there is ample evidence that Zam's zeal lies not in his purported role of "creating public awareness" but only in churning out pure political propaganda for the Barisan Nasional.

One can recall the 90-second clip aired during prime time news broadcasts on RTM1, RTM2 and TV3, in the run-up to the Indera Kayangan by-election (in January this year).

The clip on scenes depicting terrorist activities strongly inferred that PAS may rule like the repressive Taliban rulers and infringe on women's rights, should it come to power.

On the timing of the broadcasts, Zam's excuse was that it was "a mere coincidence". He added that the clip was "meant to be shown from time to time over a long period".

Zam was only fooling himself, (and the Election Commission pretended to be fooled), for 'coincidentally' and expectedly, the clip was never shown again after the by-election.

Still riding on the terrorism bogey, Zam's next 'assault' on PAS was in the form of a televised special programme on the Memali tragedy, shown on prime time slot on RTM.

Zam called the programme "a reminder to the people of the dangers of extremism" and as part of our psy-war (psychological warfare) against Islamic extremists" ( Star , Jan17). (14 PAS members were killed in a shootout with security forces in 1985 in Memali, including four policemen.)

The programme was stopped at the insistence of the National Fatwa Council. The man who had wanted to make use of Memali for an ulterior motive, ended up quite mute.

"Malaysia's Goebbels" goofed yet again when he goaded Ustaz Taib Azzamuden Mohd Taib on to reveal a "big secret" which he believed the latter had been keeping.

On May 7, the Ustaz, who was the former grand imam of the National Mosque and current PAS MP for Baling, produced a litany of big sins by certain Umno bigwigs. The Ustaz did not reveal names. Zam insisted that he did. MGG Pillai did the honours.

Among the shameful deeds, one was connected to one Zainuddin Maidin. Zam's 'big secret' propaganda became a big boo-boo. It had backfired on him. He had unknowingly spurred on the process that spewed out the 'dark side' of Umno.

The above self-humiliating episode did not deter Zam. We next hear of the airing of a 21-episode programme entitled Kelantan in darkness by RTM. Zam would later tell Parliament that the programme "raised awareness among many people on poverty in Kelantan" and "produced positive results" ( Star , Oct 6).

RTM, according to Zam, may also produce a documentary series which depicts the plight of the poor in Terengganu.

Going by his grand 'goebbelic achievements' in the past, it would not be surprising if his propaganda were to backfire again and PAS capitalise on his buffoonery.

Zam's obsession with Kelantan and Trengganu, will cause him to further abuse his position and resources as Information Ministry parliamentary secretary.

By all means reveal the 'darkness' of Kelantan and Trengganu, but since RTM is the 'national' broadcasting station, let us have the dark side of the whole nation.

RTM should, for instance, highlight the revelation that there is "not enough funds for homes for the poor" under the Development Programme for the Very Poor (PPRT).

Kedah (the PM's home state) alone had sought RM56mil (out of the RM60mil allocated) to resolve the housing issue under PPRT this year ( Star , May 7).

Perhaps RTM should do a documentary on the auditor-general's report for the year 2000 which showed glaring instances of inefficiency and mismanagement in the implementation of the PPRT — despite the many denials of the authorities involved.

Can Zam and RTM ignore poverty in Sabah and Sarawak and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's comment that he was "alarmed by the extent of the problems affecting rural education in Sabah and Sarawak" ( Star , Sept19, 2000)?

Surely the fact that 701 schools in Sarawak are without piped water, 444 schools use generators for electricity supply and 61 do not even have generators ( Sun , Mar 2, 2000) qualifies them for Zam's attention.

What about the plight of children from at least 1,000 kampung in Sabah who are without proper shelter at their schools and are therefore unable to continue their education ( Star , Feb 12, 2000)? Is the situation not dark enough for Zam?

Will Zam be disturbed by the added fact that out of 1,250 schools in Sabah, 505 or 40.5% are without electricity and 56% of the schools are without water and that many school buildings are in a sorry state?

Surely the concluding statement by an economist during the first International Conference on Malay Civilisation held recently that "ethnic economic disparity remains a basic fact of life and a major issue for social and political stability" ( NST , Oct 3), warrants Zam's attention?

What about the more than 35,000 poverty-stricken families living in dire conditions in squatter colonies in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Sarawak and Sabah, the increasingly marginalised Orang Asli, estate workers who live in inhuman conditions, etc.?

It would only be logical that RTM makes the public aware also of the social problems that plague this country which have increased in kind, frequency and severity — such as drug addiction — with statistics such as a new drug addict every 29 minutes (and about 70% of them being Malay Malaysians)!

Surely there is more to poverty in this country than what happens only in Kelantan and Trengganu. But for Zam, manufacturing and manipulating news on these two states and the opposition is all that matters.

Zam has even said that the opposition parties will not be allowed to air their views on RTM because "the country is not developed yet". Josef Goebbels must be blushing in his grave.

Veteran journalist Said Zahari (former Utusan Melayu chief editor) had proclaimed on World Press Freedom Day forum in May (which Zam had declared open) that mainstream newspapers should serve the public and not the interests of their political masters.

The same truth can be applied to those behind the country's "national broadcasting station". But Zam would find it very difficult to follow such wisdom — and we all know why.