MCA today chided Umno supreme council member Ismail Sabri's call for Umno members to support party-owned newspaper Utusan Malaysia on grounds that the daily defends Malay rights.

gan ping sieu on sport betting 250610 02 In a statement today, MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu ( left ) said it was wrong for any political leader to endorse any media organisation merely on ethnic grounds.

“Giving such a blanket endorsement to a media on ethnic grounds conveys a dangerous message to our plural society, especially in view of several controversial editorial stances Utusan has taken of late,” he said.

Gan warned that Ismail's statement, which appeared in Utusan Malaysia today, might create the impression that the daily was backed by a powerful elite and “therefore can do no wrong”.

“Such indulgence to Utusan will only reaffirm the belief, rightly or wrongly, that the newspaper is nothing but a media tool of Umno.

It only serves to damage further Utusan, whose professionalism and editorial integrity is being questioned and believed to be compromised.

“I am a firm believer in the independence of the Fourth Estate. Such freedom must come with responsibility. Of late, Utusan is seemingly trying to rewrite the fundamental tenets of what responsible reporting entails,” he said.  

Ismail wants Malays to emulate Chinese readers

Gan said that Utusan crossed the line with its front page report of a a "plot" to make Christianity the official religion of the country and install a Christian as prime minister.

He argued that this incident, which earned a reprimand from the home ministry, had unnecessarily caused alarm and anxiety among the country's different ethnic groups.

NONE According to Utusan , Ismail said Malays must support the daily, just as how the Chinese community purportedly supports Chinese newspapers despite not having full command of the language.

“The same should happen to Malays, especially Umno members, because Utusan is the official organ and voice of the Malay struggle,” he said.

Ismail said this in response to heavy criticism against Utusan of late over its report on the so-called Christian conspiracy.

He added Utusan should rightfully be the best selling newspaper in the country because Malays formed the majority.

“But instead, the Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily is the best selling newspaper because the Chinese defend their official organ,” he said.

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