Sim: Everyone should read new book about Malaysiakini

The newly published ‘Malaysiakini and the Power of Independent Media in Malaysia’ must be read by all, said Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin.

This is especially for those looking to pursue a future in journalism, he added.

“I want to recommend this book to all future journalists in the universities, I think you should make this the ‘journalist 101’ book to read.

“Everyone goes, journalist schools, mass communications schools must read it, and then all the journalists’ bosses here please make it a compulsory book to read and please buy,” he said at the book’s launch in Petaling Jaya today.

The academic book on Malaysiakini was written by journalism scholar Janet Steele, who was introduced to the news portal by Sim in 2007.

Since then, she has spent 15 years visiting the Malaysiakini newsroom and speaking to its staff to gather material for her book, which provides a critical behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of Malaysiakini.

When met after the book launch, Steele - who teaches at George Washington University - said the book is an important piece of local history.

“Malaysiakini is very important to Malaysian history. I think Malaysiakini changed this country.

“Everything is far better than before, more open, and I think Malaysians today feel more free to talk about politics, about all aspects of culture and such.

“I think everyone at Malaysiakini should be very proud of what they have achieved,” Steele said.

Through Malaysiakini’s eyes

The perspective of the news portal and how it has navigated and impacted Malaysian history is a key theme of the book.

“It looks at the history of modern Malaysia through the lens of Malaysiakini.

“By focusing on significant moments in Malaysiakini’s history, it illustrates how seemingly intractable problems get worked out within Malaysia’s only truly independent newsroom,” Steele wrote in the introduction of the book.

The book also looks into how the news portal approaches sensitive topics like race and religion.

It also contains a biography of Malaysiakini’s co-founders Steven Gan and Premesh Chandran as well as their journey leading up to the founding of the news portal.

Those who want to order the book can do so through the publisher National University of Singapore Press’ website.

Malaysiakini readers are entitled to a 20 percent discount on the book by using the code JSMAL20 during checkout.

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