YOURSAY | ‘If M'kini readers can’t use pseudonyms, all the prisons in the country will be full.’
'Be anak jantan, use real names' – Utusan reader tells M'kini readers
Vijay47: This single letter in Utusan Malaysia reveals what is fundamentally wrong with the mentality of many - say something and do exactly the reverse and worse still, all while being totally unable to see the contradiction.
We could, of course, say that the comments by the Utusan reader going by the pseudonym ‘Sila Meninggal’ are an aberration to be seen in isolation, but it actually reflects the very foundation of certain attitudes in Malaysia - the rules demanded of others are not applicable to them.
I had a fleeting glance at the original article highlighting the achievements of Nasa scientist Dr Wan Wardatul Amani Wan Salim and I remember that many congratulated her and many also asked why other Malaysians with equal or even better credentials are not given similar opportunities.
NotSmart: A message to Sila Meninggal: Don’t speak nonsense.
An "anak jantan" by the name of Rafizi Ramli highlighted an alleged corruption case involving over RM250 million belonging to the rakyat not too long ago and the PKR vice-president ended up being told to go to prison recently.
If readers of Malaysiakini are not allowed to hide behind pseudonyms, all the lockups and prisons in the country will be full.
Quigonbond: We would love to use our real names once the regulators get rid of oppressive laws that punish whistleblowers and fair commenters. As to Wan Wardatul, I don't see who in the right mind would want to belittle her.
I, for one, am proud of her because she demonstrates what a science-minded Malay can accomplish when many others prefer the easy way out.
If there are commentators who belittle her, I'm sure there are other commentators coming to her defence. Now, did you report that?
The larger issue here seems to be related to fake news again. Let's face it, the authorities cannot have the monopoly over what is a fact or not. If something is not a fact, then the government can state its position, and if the public support that position, what is fake will be drowned out.
That's trusting its own citizens to take ownership. PM Najib Razak once said parochialism is dead. Fake news legislation shows he's going back on his word, again.
Anonymous 9643521857343: Sila Meninggal, do you know why I choose to remain anonymous when making comments in Malaysiakini? That is because the playing field is not level.
When we see that DAP is mercilessly investigated for the tunnel project while no action was taken on 1MDB, Mara, Felda, NFC and others, don’t you think it is clear that only those people not deemed to be in the government’s circle get investigated and persecuted?
Just look at PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim or Rafizi. Who took the money to buy condos and pay high salaries in the NFC scandal? This is the state of affairs in this country.
So, is it any wonder why I choose to remain anonymous? Especially now that we have the famous “fake news committee” to decide if what I write is true or fake.
Anonymous 9643521857343: Dear Sila Meninggal, do you know what my definition of “jantan” (manliness) is? To me, jantan is not people like Jamal Md Yunos who goes around smashing beer bottles.
Jantan is not Utusan which boldly declared “Apa lagi Cina mau?” (“What more do the Chinese want”) on its front page after the last elections.
To me, true jantan are people like the late human rights activist Irene Fernandez who fought for the poor foreign workers while being persecuted by the authorities.
Jantan are people like PSM’s Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj who tirelessly helps poor Malaysians with their problems despite being an opposition MP. Jantan are people like Hakam chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan and Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah.
Jantan are people like DAP’s veteran leader Lim Kit Siang who never crossed over to BN despite the temptation but fought on for decades. There are many more countless jantan in Malaysia.
Who are not jantan? These are the people who pillage 1MDB, Mara, Felda, NFC, etc, or politicians who disparage other races or religions.
Kleeo: As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with much of what the Utusan reader said. I am almost always saddened when I read the comments section in Malaysiakini. Many of us are so quick to belittle and discourage.
Why can't we be happy with this young Malay woman's incredible success? Why can't we be proud of the fact that she chose to return and serve Malaysians?
My mom used to always tell me: if you don't have anything constructive and positive to say that will build people up, then keep your mouth closed.
Cogito Ergo Sum: Granted, some of the reader’s comments in the Malaysiakini article on Wan Wardatul were unsavoury and un-Malaysian, but overall, the reader’s comments over the years in Malaysiakini have been the barometer of what the average Malaysian feels.
If the Utusan editors were smart enough, they would be able to gauge the feelings on the ground and report back to their bigoted political masters about what is happening.
Instead, they have gone off on their own tangent and run a useless letter, thinking they have done their political lords a favour. However, the opposite effect is the reality.
One way or another, Utusan’s end is near. It is a dying entity. The only way it can garner temporary readership is to run racially provocative pieces.
Naresh_2cee: Yes, quite rich from a newspaper that has a pseudonym column called "Awang Selamat".
Wira: Dear Sila Meninggal, like you have done yourself, it is a privilege to use a pseudonym when one comments on some sensitive and critical issues here. I thank Malaysiakini for this.
It's the quality of one's argument which distinguishes one as having either a well-argued case or another trash post.
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