The ban on a Kongsi Raya bash in Terengganu last week sparked a controversy among the Chinese community. Despite repeated warnings that legal action could be taken, the event, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism, went ahead as planned in PAS' home turf last Friday.

In fact, the episode was nothing more than political arm-twisting between Umno and PAS. Out of all the places in the country, the Umno-run ministry decided to showcase its cultural tolerance by holding the Kongsi Raya celebration in Terengganu. Only the naive would overlook the udang di sebalik batu (ulterior motive).

But a dissatisfied PAS, feeling that its dignity was almost-fatally slain because Terengganu Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang had not been consulted, threatened to cook the Ministry's goose, at the risk of alienating Chinese voters elsewhere.

Its numerous nationwide dialogues with the Chinese communities in the past notwithstanding, PAS has again failed to gauge the sentiments of the very group of voters that it has been courting. Be it the Hudud enactment or an Islamic state blueprint, the repercussions of this seemingly negative policy direction are not felt among the Chinese in Kelantan or Terengganu, but those in other states.

All the Chinese dailies responded to Hadi's tough talk with a media onslaught, while MCA leaders were in haste to capitalise on PAS' blunder, urging Chinese Malaysians to punish the Islamic party in the next general election by voting Barisan Nasional.

Professional reporting

But it was a different tone altogether in the Malay press. Since the Kongsi Raya issue came to fore, both Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian have been, to do justice to them, rather professional in reporting it.

The massive turnout of some 35,000 at the Kongsi Raya made headlines in Utusan and Berita Harian put on a fair coverage too. However, there was a marked absence of an elaborate analysis or pro-Umno piece on the issue.

Come to think of this, I suppose Umno was caught between a rock and a hard place over the controversy.

On one hand, it sought to project itself as the guardian angel of the tiny Chinese population in Terengganu by hosting a Kongsi Raya bash for them, although its eyes were firmly on the Chinese votes nationwide. On the other hand, its weaknesses might be laid bare had it attempted to engage itself in a debate on minority rights in an Islamic state with PAS. Simply put, Umno does lack the necessary credentials to tackle PAS head-on on religious matters.

In other words, the more Umno tried to justify its goodwill for the Chinese in Terengganu, the greater the prospect of it antagonising the Malays who are wary of too much 'concession' being given to the non-Malays. So, the best way out of this dilemma was to play up PAS' 'disrespect' for Chinese culture in the Chinese papers, but to lie relatively low before the Malay reader.

The saddest truth, of course, is that both the Chinese communities in Terengganu and elsewhere have been made a political pawn between PAS and Umno, being under the delusion that their rights as a 'minority' have been well taken care of.

But the professionalism of the Malay press is best reflected in matters pertaining to Parti Rakyat Keadilan (Keadilan). When Lokman Noor Adam was sacked as a Youth exco two weeks ago by the wing's chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, both Utusan and Berita Harian abided by journalistic ethics and reported the news in a fairly balanced manner. It is also to their credit that the two Malay papers did not sensationalise the crossover of the12 Keadilan leaders to Umno this week.

In Malaysia's journalism, there is a time to distort, and a time to report too.

The hitherto return of the Malay press to professionalism is both a blessing and a bad omen for Keadilan. A blessing because it may from now on get fairer coverage in the mainstream media; a bad omen because this is emblematic of the home truth that Keadilan is a spent force by now.

So, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi was not being complacent when he said at the Cambridge Foundation that the last four years had been an eternity for the opposition. His estimation that the Barisan Alternatif had seen its fortunes wane steadily could well be right. The PM was in the lightest mood possible, for he knew that the next day he was going to meet the 12 Keadilan leaders who had returned to Umno's fold.

Fearing PAS

Be so as it may, the hidden fear of Umno for PAS remains real. If not, how would one explain the daily liturgy in the Malay press against the Islamic party, in the form of a political analysis, a religious exhortation, or simply a news piece? From the tragic case of Nurul Huda Othman, whose death PAS is said to have regarded as 'divine punishment', to the unceasing waves of 'crossover' of PAS members to Umno, my bet is, the most exciting thing to watch at the next general election would be the showdown between Umno and PAS.

On the other hand, since Huaren Holdings, an MCA's investment arm, ignominiously took over the Nanyang Press nearly three years ago, the Chinese press industry has degenerated into BN's mouthpiece. The MCA now has two major Chinese dailies under its belt, namely Nanyang Siang Pau and the China Press, plus the lucrative the Star. Apparently, Ong Ka Ting, MCA's president, has a strong affinity with the press.

The take-over bid effectively ushered in, or worsened, the patronage culture in the Chinese press. This can be seen from Abdullah's 100th day in office, on which Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau, as well as Oriental Daily News, ran a special feature, lavishing praises on him.

Other issues that made the news was the former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's visit to Jakarta to meet former Indonesian president Suharto

Sin Chew, in its 'Communication Platform', praised Mahathir for showing his friendship and warmth to the now hermit-like Suharto. But what about all the cruelty and corruption during Suharto's long reign?

I was once told that an overcooked meal would leave one in bad taste. But an overdone overture? Tasteless.