Newly-appointed Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin had one answer - and stuck to it - when asked to respond to a claim that he had sought the sacking of top New Straits Times Press Bhd (NSTP) editors.

"I don't want to entertain rubbish. Sorry," he flatly told reporters at his office, on his first day at work as full minister following last week's cabinet reshuffle.

In otherwise jovial mood, Zainuddin ( photo ) - widely known as Zam - had called a press conference to explain the ministry's new policies, flanked by his two new deputies Zahid Hamidi and Chia Kwang Chye.

In a commentary published last Thursday, NSTP deputy chairperson and editorial advisor, Kalimullah Hassan had lashed out at Zainuddin, reminding him he is "not an editor of the Malaysian media".

Kalimmullah had claimed that, a day before the cabinet reshuffle last Tuesday, Zainuddin had asked for top NSTP editors to be dismissed, during an Umno bureau closed-door meeting.

Pressed for his response, Zainuddin again replied: "I am not going to entertain rubbish. I have the bigger picture in mind. You have to look at the bigger picture, not at small things."

Asking reporters to introduce themselves later, he clarified the context of his use of the word 'rubbish', when it came to the New Straits Times ( NST) reporter's turn to identify himself.

"I am not referring to anyone as rubbish. But I am not going to take any rubbish. You know we have a very big task here. We are not going to entertain this small thing," he reiterated.

"I'm not saying NST is rubbish, jangan silap (don't mistake my meaning). I am just saying that I'm not going to entertain petty things," he told the reporter.

Jokingly, he asked everyone else: "Do I look like your enemy? Do I look like your editor? No?" before bursting into laughter.

Lecture on journalism

He was also asked his response to DAP's police report against him yesterday over his statement that the Tamil media had played up racial sentiments.

Zainuddin repeated that he has a bigger picture to look at, instead of dwelling on such matters.

"I said I'm not going to entertain rubbish. I see a bigger picture. I've asked God to help me to see the bigger thing. I don't want to entertain petty things that will create ill-feelings. What for? I am old enough. I am not a child. I have gone through turmoil and peace," he said.

The former editor-in-chief of Malay daily Utusan Malaysia said his stint in journalism has taught him not take "rubbish".

"In newspapers we are trained as to what should be published. (If) it's rubbish, then you throw it in the bin... This profession teaches you to be a mature and very knowledgeable person.

"Unfortunately some people still pour out things in the newspapers. But that's guided by emotion, not by logical thinking," he said without elaborating.

Before ending the press conference, Zainuddin told journalists that he is a "friend" of all reporters.

"I am meeting you (for the) first time. I am your friend," he added.