Taking to task those who dare
Malaysian journalists who work for foreign media organisations are not truthful, write to a mysterious agenda set thousands of kilometres away, report events from the perspective of fairness and independence, traits he believes Malaysian journalists should not have.
They should not, in his considered view, write anything that puts the government in a bad light. Malaysian reporters must emulate the Information's ministry's agencies and that great international news agency, RIA-Novosti, of the Russian federation.
The two combine forces to make Malaysians known in the Russian federation and Russians in the Malaysian federation. How they intend to do that is no doubt a state secret. That neither is a household word even in their own countries is, of course, not the issue.
Running down Malaysian reporters in the foreign media would not ensure better coverage in Malaysian newspapers and media. Nor would it get a better press, if the official information ministry behaves as journalistic luddites.
In any important issue the government takes cudgels on behalf of, race is the issue, but it is never addressed directly, only in euphemism.
Zam's frustration compounds his inability, or refusal, to understand that the foreign media does not have the luxury the local press have of publishing the full text of the prime minister's speeches.
Dark picture
Most Malaysian reporters fall into the same foxhole. He cannot say this. So, he paints a dark picture of the Western media, something that rolls off his tongue with ease, to damn Malaysians who do try to be good reporters. To not put a fine point to it, the Malaysian reporters he talks of are non-Malay.
There are some excellent Malay reporters and they run to newer pastures quickly enough, usually the foreign media, where their talent can be put to better use than as a journalistic doormats in the local media.
But Malay reporters are caught in the same dependence that affects Malays in other professions and trades. The New Economic Policy (NEP) has much to answer for that.
Therefore, Zam, in his comments on the Information Ministry-RIA-Novosti hookup, misses the wood for the trees.
Convoluted logic
An even larger question beckons. Why does not Zam and his ministry encourage local newspapers to have foreign correspondents who would report as foreign correspondents should?
Those they have now are not bothered about the country they are in, and believe their role is only as adjuncts to the Malaysian mission there.
Zam further believes that any media group that makes money is suspect. Any one working for one is ipso facto a traitor. All news organisations, even those in the news industry, need to make money to survive.
They are not social welfare organisations. In Malaysia, but for The Star, professionally managed, almost every other news organisation is in the red.
This, he now spouts as evidence of their commitment to good values and good news. But it is convoluted, usually ill-thought-out logic like this, that makes nonsense of any official attempt to right the wrong.
Corporate brigandage
That these media organisations are constantly in the red is evidence of bad management and corporate brigandage, not a commitment to good reporting.
The media is now so sophisticated that unless a government treats it seamlessly, it would run into a metaphoric brick wall. The Malaysian government, especially Zam, does not understand it.
So, how is the world's news agencies and newspapers to look at such rubbish as its denizens spout?
The government does not have a clue how to put its journalistic house in order. It believes that the foreign media must wait until it is ready to respond. But news organisations do not have that luxury. So, they go to whoever is prepared to comment.
Speed, which comes with a whole baggage of bad reporting, instant comment and being swayed with the crowd, unfortunately is here to stay. The Malaysian government must come to terms with it.
Official belief
There is now no official that a foreign or local media can call, at any time of the day or night, to check or obtain information. If there is, he is perpetually at meetings, never returns calls, and hence, the information is often confirmed or obtained informally at lower levels.
There is an official belief that the authorities can do what they like, and any adverse comment in the foreign media is proof of its perfidy.
If Zam is smart, and the government wants a good press, he and it would start working with the Malaysians working for foreign media, instead of attacking them for the wrong reasons.
The government is not unhappy with other Malaysians working for foreign organisations. But if working for foreign bodies and organisations is bad, that should also.
It is not. Zam attacks Malaysians in the foreign media to vent his anger on those who dare do what they do.
