YOURSAY | ‘If hidden forces want to ‘turn over’ news portals, the first target would be Malaysiakini .’

Kadir: Najib's camp seeks to buy, control news portals

Vijay47: For the moment, I will not comment on the claims by A Kadir Jasin, who has repeatedly shown that you can take the editor out of the New Straits Times, but you can never take the hypocrisy out of the editor.

If hidden forces want to ‘turn over’ cyber news portals, the first target would obviously be Malaysiakini .

Despite the convenient label of "opposition media", Malaysiakini tries very hard to play a balanced role - it presents both sides of an issue and, in fact, gives much more coverage to "official" news than the mainstream media gives to the opposition.

In Malaysia, after years of the New Straits Times , Utusan Malaysia , and The Star for our staple diet, any fair reporting is viewed as anti-government poison.

Malaysiakini has single-handedly done more to unite those who may want to know about the political realities on the ground, and those who may want a change, than all the rest combined. To a large degree, the recent election results have been moulded by Malaysiakini’s news.

So, what can Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan and chief executive officer Premesh Chandran expect?

First will be the soft approach, the offers of riches and titles (Steven, I will never address you as Tan Sri! Gan Sri, maybe), contracts, and fabulous prices for Malaysiakini’s shares.

When this fails, the Empire will switch gears and give gentle warnings of ‘un-nice’ things that could happen to them and their family. This will be followed by unending trials in court over all manners of charges to wear them down.

What next? Perhaps being blatantly followed, along with harassment of the wife and children. And if Steven and Premesh still refuse to buckle under? God forbid, would Darth Vader do a Kevin?

MerelyOne: Perhaps a little melodramatic, Vijay47, but point taken. Sadly, it looks like The Edge and The Malaysian Insider may succumb.

Last year's suspension hit The Edge badly - perhaps we can expect some similar trumped-up reason to drain Malaysiakini's lifeblood?

RCZ: Kadir was very much a media man, and he knows full well that former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad - with his help - had stifled the media. Both Mahathir and Kadir are peeved that the student has outgrown the master.

I am sure that Malaysiakini’s owners will know what to do, as they have done all these years. They will do the right thing and will go down in history as having done it.

Anonymous 2390201452132777: Indeed, during Mahathir’s era, Kadir was one of his “best friends”. These two will do anything to fulfil the demand curve - including by controlling the news media.

So Kadir, it will be much better if you remain silent.

DramaQueen: I have already stopped reading The Star and the New Straits Times .

The government must understand that constructive criticisms can help us improve and become better people.

If it is always praise that you want... then it can be quite nauseating for the readers.

The readers can differentiate between what’s real and what is actually happening, along with what are mere fairy tales with happy endings. I prefer reading and watching real stories, myself.

Anonymous 2390251451363147: In the Malaysian context today, the traditional media - comprising its print and broadcast components - are being increasingly challenged by the modern media in cyberspace (i.e. the Internet, blogs, text messages, etc) in the market of news, views and previews.

How easy it is today to disseminate news and publish defamatory words at a touch of our fingertips. It is vastly different from Mahathir's era of mainstream mass media.

Sushi Sashimi: We know that PM Najib Abdul Razak has his own supporters. I believe he is still relevant as the prime minister. After all the allegations thrown at him, he keeps standing to serve the people and what’s best for the rakyat.

Kadir, Dr Mahathir’s legacy is over. Why must you put the blame on Najib's shoulders alone as if Mahathir didn't do anything wrong during his past leadership?

Mojo Jojo: No number of government-controlled online news portals and social media accounts can save a rent-seeking regime from self-implosion.

After all, people can't feed off propaganda to fill an empty stomach.

Editor’s note: Malaysiakini will remain steadfast as an independent media and will continue its mission to support the development of freedom of speech, social justice and democracy in Malaysia.

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