When Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case was heard 12 years ago, quite a number of Malaysians were embarrassed and upset by the details in news reports.

As a result many boycotted the mainstream media, especially pro-government outfits such as the New Straits Times and the Utusan not only for the embarrassment but also for their perceived bias in reporting his sacking as deputy premier and of the court proceedings of his alleged sodomy trial.

These days, the exposure of lurid details is now perceived with more tolerance particularly among the youth.

They turn more to alternative media, to keep up-to-date with the court case dubbed Sodomy II.

A quick survey of the young professionals reveals that the alternative media is putting paid to the idea that youngsters lack interest about the political developments in the country.

'We can handle it well'

"I believe that the court proceedings said to be a bit too graphic should be carried by the media as we have the right to know what is happening in the country," said actuarial science student Padharmendran Annadorai.

He does not consider details of the trail as being too vividly detailed, saying that the younger generation is much more open about such matters.

Padharmendran said he and his friends are following Anwar's trial closely and have no problems at all with the way it is being reported.

Vishnu Gangatharan, 18, concurred with him, saying that youngsters can take the reports in their stride.

"This is just a court proceeding, nothing wrong in reporting it and I'm pretty sure youngsters nowadays are aware of the terms sodomy, gay and lesbian unlike teenagers 12 years ago," he added.

A 19-year-old girl, who wished to be identified as Sara, accused the media of sensationalising the trial.

She dubbed the coverage of the trial "biased" but concurred that young people needed to be exposed to what is happening in the "real world of politics".

Generally, Sara felt the younger generation is not so ‘shy' when it comes to explicit details in the media reports.

Discomfited but not disturbed

In the meantime, some feel it is not so ‘appropriate' for explicit details be made available for public consumption.

"Some might be open to such details, and some not," said Esther Chan.

Chan, 20 said most of her friends do not follow the news of the trial.

A 21-year-old who wanted to be known as just Ezie considered the reports ‘rather disturbing'.

However, to her it does not mean others must share her feelings.

"The public should be exposed to current happenings, whether it is explicit or not. On that matter, I think youngsters are more open and can digest such news pretty well now," she said.