The cyber war is on and there are clear attempts to discredit online media. Sarawak Report is being vilified and the hoax on the AmBank staff member’s resignation is aimed at getting readers to begin to question the veracity of what is published in the online media.

What readers need to understand is that there is a definite plan to divert attention. The sudden issues relating to dress code, then the Low Yat Plaza fracas, are all aimed at diverting the reader from the key issue at hand namely the credibility of the prime minister. Someone is manipulating issues and Malaysians have to be wise.

Online media will gain the respect of its readers if they would register a serious complaint with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and take whatever steps necessary to ensure that they will not be exploited likewise in the future by such groups. To discredit a ‘statutory document’ in the way they did cannot be tolerated. There is no place for ‘hoaxes’ in the online media and action must be taken.

The PM on his part is not even acknowledging that the accounts in AmBank were under his name. However the task force has indicated this, as can be read from the press statements made. The PM is only interested in affirming that he has not used the money for personal benefit. This was never the question.

What is at stake is the means by which the money reached his personal accounts. He deflects attention by focussing on the ends. This is a typical diversionary tactic amounting to a serious cover-up.

Furthermore, the task force reports to him and with all that he has garnered comprising power, money, cronies, political machinery and the mainline media he can be expected to give a tough fight. That is why he is not answering simple direct and straightforward question put to him. He also knows that after him there is a vacuum and it is not in the ultimate interest of many to get him removed.

There is also no need to remove him as his credibility nationally and internationally is already so low and the only goal is to focus, as Dr Mahathir Mohamad does, on simple answers to simple direct question.

With RM2.4 billion and assuming most of it was used for election purposes there would still be amounts left over that could finance such diversionary tactics. The PM has an entire PR and communications outfit that can plan and engineer the creation of news that takes the focus from the core. They have the money and the cronies to assist them.

Look at the minister who is now taking pot shots at Sarawak Report. What credibility does he hold knowing that he is with the PM and Umno?  He should have used an independent third party to gain some attention

We have enough financial rules and regulations. Anyone who sends money overseas, be it parents who do so to finance the education of their children in UK or the US, will know the documentation that needs to be filled up. The same when we receive money as some parents of international students remit fees either through the bank or make payment in US dollars.

The question is how come such documentation was waived in the case of billions of US dollars that went into Najib Abdul Razak’s account.

This is a violation and it does not need the task force months to ascertain the illegality of such transactions. More so, when such violations are perceived to have been undertaken by none other than the prime minister and finance minister of the nation. This is where silence by Bank Negara is deafening. Obviously, our regulatory bodies are beholden to the PM and the executive. Meanwhile there is a lot on the media to discredit online reports and individuals.

Why are the online media more credible? One has to read the mainstream licensed media and the answers become obvious. Many of them are owned by political parties belonging to the ruling coalition. They obviously know their boundaries and will play up any issue that discredits news by whistleblowers.  

Utusan Malaysia, The Star and the New Straits Times are part of this scene. Look at The Edge publications and you can see how they are being questioned by the authorities for not toeing the line.

Very little checks and balances

We are weak on investigative journalism. The Sun paper does some good stories but the response from the government, town councils and other regulatory bodies have been lame at best. There is very little in terms of checks and balances and the regulatory bodies all operate within their boundaries and will hardly step out to deal with any infringements. In such an environment, corruption flourishes from the small man at the bottom to the politician at the top.

Just as the powers that be have their PR/communications department, they also have their think-tanks that present interesting ideas and speeches. The gap between what is said and what is done is blatantly obvious as is the case of the PM soon addressing an anti-corruption conference. The PM has been in politics for so long and has been cultured in and through a system that promotes such a reality.

Perhaps he even does not see the wrong that has been committed. Others have done it before and got away, so, why is it so wrong now?

His unfortunate position is that we live in a more open environment. Online media change has been great for Malaysia over the last decade. This eventually led to the previous PM stepping down and despite all that Najib may do and like a Bugis warrior, he must realise that his battle is nearing its end and it is a matter of time. His great talk of transformation and credibility are good think-tank ideas more to be spoken about than to be practiced.

The leader must ultimately walk the talk. If you do not have it in your life to bring transformation to your leadership, to the way you operate, to give greater space to democratic expression than the gaps become obvious.

Malaysia is the only country in the world to have a minister for transparency, integrity and human rights. The intention is there but the execution is limited to others not the PM. So, very good leaders by not raising issues are seen to be condoning such behaviour. This is how wrong continues to be legitimised.

Just as you cannot talk about business ethics if you do not practice it in your own business, the same applies to politicians. As the saying goes, “You cannot live crooked and think straight”, and this applies to the ordinary man as well as the leader. Malaysians are therefore invited to focus on the essence of the issue and not be distracted by all the ‘red herrings’ that are mischievously planted to distract us.

So what is then perceived as the truth? It is perhaps the right that is denied and the wrong that is justified. We must not be caught in this ethical trap.