Incriminated by past actions
Paul WarrenPublished: Mar 23, 2001 9:02 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
We are no doubt aware that the Royal Malaysian Police take their orders from Umno and Umno Youth. However, before they begin to jump at the latest 'order' issued through the filing by Umno Youth of its most recent report against five foreign media, I would like them to consider a number of points ([#1]Umno Youth lodges police report against foreign media[/#], March 22).
Umno Youth chief publicity officer Azimi Daim said, "The articles in these foreign media quoted the opposition's statements on the clashes in Taman Medan but did not quote the official sources, such as the police. This gave the impression that the police were trying to hide information from the public. By only quoting the opposition, the public will read that the police are indeed trying to hide information on the clashes."
Sadly, his rationale is the very reason why there cannot be merit in depending on the police or the official media for correct information by any credible and level-headed media.
Umno Youth cannot possibly deny that it took over four months and a royal commission to obtain a confession of a truth that happened within the very halls of powers within the police force, i.e. the beating of Anwar Ibrahim at the hands of the then police chief.
The fact remains that the police and the 'official sources' that Umno Youth refers to have yet to redeem their credibility insofar as relying on them for information over matters of interest to the people of Malaysia and the world.
If they were unable to relate a simple thing like what happened under their own hands within their own corridors within a credible time period, how are they ever going to be able to relate anything that happens outside the horizons of their vision and outside their own walls?
If my argument above is to be dismissed by anyone, I would like to put forward in defence of my argument the statement made by none other than the New Straits Times group editor Ahmad Talib. At a dialogue between media editors and members of the National Unity Advisory Panel he said that the local media had lost their credibility because it had to comply with directives from the authorities to either downplay such incidents or not report them at all ([#2]Media a party to 'window dressing'[/#], March 20).
I am only sorry that for having made such a statement Ahmad has now put his job on the line. What he has admitted to is that the media have knowingly been feeding Malaysians with lies and half-truths as instructed by the 'official sources'!
What the police now have before them, therefore, is a report accusing the foreign press of "implying that the police were trying to hide information from the public with regard to the Taman Medan clashes".
On the other hand, there is now also before them an admission by a publisher of information and news in Malaysia who says that he and other media practitioners under government control have been responsible for disseminating news and information they knew to be false. He also admits to omissions which taint the truth. And he was only so doing because he relied on and was instructed to issue the information disseminated by the police and the official sources.
Before jumping to carry out this Umno Youth 'issued directive', I do hope the police will also recall their own ability to issue truthful information within acceptable time frames that those in the information and news business can confidently rely on when committing themselves to the news that they publish in their names.
I would also like to add that within the information business there are a number of dynamic forces that affect the credibility of sources of information: timeliness, verifiable truths and completeness.
It would appear to me that the Malaysian police and the official sources would fail miserably in all three.
Omissions might appear as a wonderful way of keeping the population blissfully unaware of dangers that might be lurking. But try telling that to a kid about to sit for an examination and wondering whether to omit attempting a question because he does not know the answer to it or to attempt at an answer that he knows to be wrong.
The outcome would still be the same. He fails!
Umno Youth chief publicity officer Azimi Daim said, "The articles in these foreign media quoted the opposition's statements on the clashes in Taman Medan but did not quote the official sources, such as the police. This gave the impression that the police were trying to hide information from the public. By only quoting the opposition, the public will read that the police are indeed trying to hide information on the clashes."
Sadly, his rationale is the very reason why there cannot be merit in depending on the police or the official media for correct information by any credible and level-headed media.
Umno Youth cannot possibly deny that it took over four months and a royal commission to obtain a confession of a truth that happened within the very halls of powers within the police force, i.e. the beating of Anwar Ibrahim at the hands of the then police chief.
The fact remains that the police and the 'official sources' that Umno Youth refers to have yet to redeem their credibility insofar as relying on them for information over matters of interest to the people of Malaysia and the world.
If they were unable to relate a simple thing like what happened under their own hands within their own corridors within a credible time period, how are they ever going to be able to relate anything that happens outside the horizons of their vision and outside their own walls?
If my argument above is to be dismissed by anyone, I would like to put forward in defence of my argument the statement made by none other than the New Straits Times group editor Ahmad Talib. At a dialogue between media editors and members of the National Unity Advisory Panel he said that the local media had lost their credibility because it had to comply with directives from the authorities to either downplay such incidents or not report them at all ([#2]Media a party to 'window dressing'[/#], March 20).
I am only sorry that for having made such a statement Ahmad has now put his job on the line. What he has admitted to is that the media have knowingly been feeding Malaysians with lies and half-truths as instructed by the 'official sources'!
What the police now have before them, therefore, is a report accusing the foreign press of "implying that the police were trying to hide information from the public with regard to the Taman Medan clashes".
On the other hand, there is now also before them an admission by a publisher of information and news in Malaysia who says that he and other media practitioners under government control have been responsible for disseminating news and information they knew to be false. He also admits to omissions which taint the truth. And he was only so doing because he relied on and was instructed to issue the information disseminated by the police and the official sources.
Before jumping to carry out this Umno Youth 'issued directive', I do hope the police will also recall their own ability to issue truthful information within acceptable time frames that those in the information and news business can confidently rely on when committing themselves to the news that they publish in their names.
I would also like to add that within the information business there are a number of dynamic forces that affect the credibility of sources of information: timeliness, verifiable truths and completeness.
It would appear to me that the Malaysian police and the official sources would fail miserably in all three.
Omissions might appear as a wonderful way of keeping the population blissfully unaware of dangers that might be lurking. But try telling that to a kid about to sit for an examination and wondering whether to omit attempting a question because he does not know the answer to it or to attempt at an answer that he knows to be wrong.
The outcome would still be the same. He fails!
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