your say 'Having once worked in Utusan , I can say that it had a level of noble journalism that drew a huge readership. Not anymore.'

Utusan has lost its way, decries NUJ chief

Ghkok: I'm so thrilled that now there's someone from the inside to confirm what we already know for a long time - the venom and poison that Utusan Malaysia prints everyday. It's good to have that confirmation. Finally!

Anak Bangsa Malaysia: Hata Wahari, as the new NUJ (National Union of Journalists) president, you are above race and religion. Journalism is simply that - it seeks justice over race and religion, and on any other matter across the board.

It is going to be a huge task for you to "divorce Utusan from Umno". It is disheartening to note that there are some journalists who don't think and feel like you, Mr Hata. Needless to say, Utusan has been sensationalising thousands of racial and religious issues, both of which are sensitive not just in Malaysia but in any civilised nation.

I am happy to note too that Utusan' s circulation has dropped - it must drop further. God is watching from a distance.

Logic: Hata, I salute you for being liberal and open-minded. If everyone in this country starts to think like that, I'm sure the fear of May 13 will not arise at all.

Anonymous: Yet another Malay who is not afraid to stand up and speak out against the dark forces that seem to be driving this country into very dark times.

Having once worked in Utusan , I can say that it had a level of noble journalism that drew a huge readership. Not anymore. These days, the paper's day-to-day hysterical rantings and toxic vomiting of lies, has made a huge chunk of that readership throw the paper away in total disgust.

The rakyat want nothing to do with a paper that is hell bent on evil. The same has happened with another lying, toxic paper, the New Straits Times . Who reads it anymore?

BN and it's slave master, Umno, will never, ever get it: the people want stability, peace, brotherhood, and the opportunity to earn a decent wage. They don't want to see the country being torn apart by those dark forces.

RR: Hata Wahari, don't be intimidated by anyone. As PM Najib Razak has declared the moderates must speak up so that extremists and fanatics are weeded out, more people like Hata must speak up to keep this land peaceful and progressive.

Ferdtan: We hope that NUJ, with its recently-elected chief Hata Wahari, be the beacon to enlightenment for all news media - to bring back media freedom and the voice of the long forgotten people. Pray that you would succeed, where many had tried but failed in this hazardous struggle.

Matrix: Good luck, dude. You're a decent fella, and I respect you for voicing your stand against Utusan Malaysia's daily racial instigation. But I disagree with you that it did not completely come under the influence of Umno, directly or indirectly.

Given the daily spats of racism spit out by Utusan , there is full front-page evidence of this, and Umno is doing nothing to stop it. Their deafening silence simply means they give consent for Utusan and Perkasa to go on their daily rampage. No ifs or buts.

Michael Angelo: With today's Internet information age, newspapers must not take their readers for granted or treat them as suckers. Today's print newspapers are also not cheap to buy and what more with crap content, why would anybody want to pay money to read crap.

Utusan owners are not bothered about readers' views and preferences because they probably get subsidised by the stable advertisement support from their political masters. Time will tell how long this can go on. Based on history, it won't be too long.

President: Sleeping giant NUJ is arising

AkuMelayu: Saudara Hata, rakan seperjuanganku, pepatah Melayu ada mengatakan 'kalau sesat di tengah jalan, pulang ke pangkal jalan'. Jangan saudara lemas dengan pujian dan sanjungan dari mereka yang anda ketahui dengan jelas bahawa mereka itu bukan dari bangsa saudara sendiri.

Sokongan mereka kepada saudara bermotifkan kepentingan puak mereka. Saya yakin akal saudara tidak dangkal. Saudara pasti sedar bahawa Utusan Malaysia memperjuangkan hak Melayu, iaitu bangsa saudara sendiri.

Of course, it is exciting to be popular... but popularity at the expense of your own race being ridiculed because of your action is stupid.

Koh: Dear AkuMelayu, I was touched when we see Malaysian regardless of race go out to help and love one another, be it Iban, Orang Asli, Indian - they are all Malaysian. And as a Chinese, I care for the Malay people and all races in Malaysia. So why not be more open and inclusive to all Malaysians, instead of sticking to only look after one's own race?

Gen2indian: I am not a journalist but an avid reader since I was about nine of all forms of news - print then and electronic now - and I believe that when you control the media, you control the peoples' mind and thinking.

Wrongdoing goes unreported, dissent is met with a sledgehammer and the ruling elite can do no wrong. Most times, I feel like throwing up when I am confronted with all forms of drivel in the MSM (mainstream media) every morning so much so I almost always want to cancel my subscription but then I miss world and sports news.

Tuan Hata, (I don't mind calling you "tuan" out of respect ), I am 100 percent behind you as will all freedom loving Malaysians. As your number one priority is to get the political parties out of owning the major newspapers, I will pray for you, tuan , to my (Hindu) God for aren't we all children of one God, wise and fair!

Ferdtan: I am so touched by what NUJ president Hata Wahari said that I am considering myself as an unofficial member of 'Hata Waharis' .

Let me quote from the Dan Brown's latest book 'The Lost Symbol', a fiction no less but still relevant: "Unveiling the truth is never easy. Throughout history, every period of enlightenment has been accompanied by darkness, pushing in opposite. Such are the laws of nature and balance. And if we look at the darkness growing in the world today, we have to realise that this means there is equal light growing."

I hope the awakening of the sleeping giant, NUJ, will be that leading light - to lead Malaysia from its darkness.

K Johns : Bravo! Keep it up. That's the spirit, bruder. From a fellow journalist.

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