Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin lambasted the Star Editor-in-Chief for racist remarks

1. THE PREJUDICE ATTITUDE OF THE STAR GROUP CHIEF EDITOR AGAINST UTUSAN
MALAYSIA.
HAS THE GOVERNMENT UNDER NAJIB BEEN IGNORING CHINESE VOICE?
The Star can no longer hide its tendency to support the party it favours , even to the
despair of its journalism fraternity, when it blatantly accused Utusan Malaysia of
being racist because of its headlines “ Apa lagi Cina Mahu?’ (What More Do The
Chinese Want?).
By having a newspaper cutting of Utusan Malaysia on its feature page, and not even
mentioning it in the article, with the title Win Them Over, Dont Blame Them, on May
8, its Group Chief Editor Datuk Wong Chun Wai clearly shows his criticism against
Utusan Malaysia.
More obvious when he wrote “There is no need for intimidating messages and
reports, particularly those which smack of racism, whether via the social platform or
traditional media…it does not augur well for the country when a mainstream Bahasa
Malaysia daily took on a racial slant in its edition yesterday”.
He also said that "in a highly charged political atmosphere, racial remarks can be
easily magnified and such foolishness should be avoided."
Datuk Wong is not being fair and balanced, but is bias and prejudice because he did
not point at the Chinese newspapers which have long been publishing news and
articles that contradict provisions in the Federal Constitution , in fact seditious in
nature. (If Datuk Wong wants the newspaper cutting, I can give it ).
Datuk Wong should have given serious consideration before voicing his opinion so as
not to be seen as only seeing Utusan Malaysia’s mistakes. As an editor of an English
newspaper, which is read by all races, Datuk Wong should be open minded in tandem
with his pursuit for media freedom and not controlled by his political affiliation and
racism.
Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin

2. Who is the idiot? Utusan Malaysia? its Chief Editor Datuk Aziz Ishak ? the Malay
voice? Is this the opinion of a Chinese Chief Editor of a newspaper or DAP or the
Chinese community towards the Malays.
Utusan Malaysia has a long history on its struggle, which began more than 70 years
ago. It was the people’s voice for independence beginning in Singapore with the
nationalists, socialists and now the voice of Malaysians who are committed to the
Federal Constitution? The voice that places importance on pursuing its struggle than
monetary gains. Is this noble and daring voice, the voice of an idiot.
What Wong has done is unethical, for directly criticizing another newspaper which
does not share its policy, where Utusan Malaysia, in its news reports and features on
the anger of its readers against The Star over matters which are sensitive to the
Malays, has never mentioned its name, but only referred to it as an English
newspaper.
I used to criticize The Star for publishing a report by a royalty who insulted UMNO,
but Utusan did not name the paper. This is the journalism fraternity which is not
written.
The Star, which sympathises with the opposition before the 2008 tsunami, no longer
hides when referring to Utusan Malaysia, when it is criticized by the Chinese
community. (If Datuk Wong wants the cutting, I have it).
I do not deny that The Star is balanced in the reporting of its news and features, but
there is no mission and commitment by The Star in championing national policies
which are also supported by MCA.
It is hiding its claws and teeth, but will attack and bite when it sees its enemy is weak
and in this matter, Datuk Wong appears to play his role, to show the opposition
where he stands.
He will show his hidden claw. In this matter, I am reminded of V.K. Chin, the Chief
Editor and Adviser of The Star , who is sincere, honest and believe in the country
policies.
Prior to the 2008 general election, The Star cleverly manipulated news that could
help the opposition and create the anti-government sentiment among the Chinese
community, like when it promoted a book on May 13 written by a former DAP
members who is a lecturer at the National University of Singapore.
How did he tell the book was in the market? It started with the publication of a news
Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin

3. report from a short messaging service (sms) saying that the book was banned and
then its journalist asked the Home Ministry whether that was true or not.
A denial on it was blown out of proportion with the aim of promoting the book,
which started with a news story purportedly saying that the book was banned.
However, after MCA president Datuk Chua Soi Lek took over supervision of The Star
after the 2008 tsunami, there was some restriction by the newspaper, although it
seems free. This, surely could be felt by the opposition parties, which were its secret
friends.
The Star is a free paper, but not free of the Malaysian Malaysia policy. It does not
champion the national struggle with full commitment like Utusan Malaysia. The
betrayal by anti-nationalists who were trained in Taiwan was never exposed.
Who reported the news on Chinese students insulting the country in Taiwan, of a
group of Chinese students in Taiwan staging a protest by showing off the inverted
Malaysia flags.
Not long ago, a Malaysian student in Taiwan changed the lyrics of the National
Anthem with lyrics that insulted Malaysia.
It is The Star that published a story of the father apologizing and it was also The Star
which carried a story on the Malaysian students in Taiwan saying “We are sorry” for
inverting the national flag, which they claimed was done not because they have no
respect for Malaysia but because they were not happy with the undemocratic
general election.
In both the cases, The Star did not criticize the action as Wong did when criticizing
Utusan Malaysia.
The least The Star could do was the ask why it always happened in Taiwan? Why is it
that Taiwan, which wants to compete with the People’s Republic of China in its
relations with Malaysia allowed such things to happen in its country.
Taiwan is actually the training centre for Chinese cadres overseas to build a Chinese
network outside China to balance the mainland China. This is required by the United
States of America.
The Star is sensitive and quick to defend and cover the bad, betrayal or anti-national
attitude of the Chinese community and the Chinese newspapers.
For example, when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib indicated at a media conference
that it was not only Utusan which is to be blame, but also the Chinese newspapers,
the Star published a statement by Lim Kit Siang " DAP to back move to charge
Chinese papers playing racial sentiment".
Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin

4. Kit Siang said "there should no be a double standard in penalizing anyone guilty of
stirring racial sentiment”.
It is not wrong for The Star to publish the story if it does not show a bias stand
against the Chinese newspapers and is unfair to Utusan Malaysia through the article
by its chief editor.
It should be mentioned that at a media conference two days ago, Datuk Seri Najib
when shoved with questions by a journalist on the front page report of Utusan
Malaysia ‘What More Do The Chinese Want?’ responded by saying “You blame
Utusan, what about the Chinese language newspapers. Are you saying that some
people are saying the right thing all the time”.
It was responded by applause from the media members.
This reminded me to a question by an Australian journalist to then Malaysian Prime
Minister Dr.Mahathir Mohamed at media conference at the Conference of Heads of
Asean Countries in Singapore a long time ago.
The journalist asked “When will relations between Malaysia and Australia improve?.
Dr Mahathir responded by pointing at the journalist and said “When you are
good” (referring to the Australian media).
Why was Najib’s views on the Chinese newspapers not considered by Datuk Wong
before he wrote the article against Utusan. Is he not racist and in a position to show
of his claws.
A day before the article which criticized Utusan was published, Datuk Wong Chun
Wai screamed "Dont ignore the Chinese voice? in one of his articles. Has the
government under Datuk Seri Najib been ignoring the Chinese voice.
In the current situation, the title enhanced the misperception of the Chinese towards
the government and created anger among the Malays because Wong himself does
not know what they have received.
Hence, Datuk Wong and the Chinese community should not be surprise with the
question by Utusan Malaysia" What More Do The Chinese Want?"
Hasn’t The Star been screaming things which hurt the feelings of the Malays? Is there
anymore Chinese voice not heard by the government? Malaysian Malaysia?
Source :
http://zamkata.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-prejudice-attitude-of-star-group.html
Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin

5. Wednesday May 8, 2013
GE13: Win them over, don’t blame them
Comment by WONG CHUN WAI
Intimidating message: In a highly-charged political atmosphere, racial remarks such as the front page headline in
yesterday’s Utusan Malaysia can be easily magnified and should be avoided.
It is one thing to analyse how the voting patterns went and how the different
ethnic groups voted, but it goes against the grain of democracy when voters
are blamed and threatened.
THE general election is over. For good or bad, the decision has been made by
all Malaysians who cast their votes on May 5.
The whole point of having elections, in a democracy, is to allow the people to
exercise their rights by picking their choices.
Once a mandate is obtained, in this case by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, he
earns his right to govern the country.
The 133 seats obtained by the Barisan Nasional is not as huge as he would
have hoped for, but in a modern democracy, the reality is that the days of
governing with a comfortable two-thirds majority are over. It did not happen in
Britain where the Conservatives had to team up with the Liberal Democrats to
form a government and in Australia, where the ruling government only has a
single seat majority.
In Singapore, where the government is known for its competency and
intolerance of corruption, the PAP under Lee Hsien Loong has been losing by-
elections.
In the case of Umno, which was formed in May 1946, its record of
governance, in being the lead party first in the Alliance, and then the Barisan,
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6. is sterling in any democracy. That it was able to lead the Barisan to victory in
this latest battle is surely an achievement.
There may have been some accusations of fraud but on the whole, the
election results have been well accepted. The DAP has declared it is happy
with its huge gains and PAS has said the same despite losing Kedah.
The only exception is PKR's Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who had this grand
delusion of being Prime Minister. Bitter that his ambition is gone, he still
cannot move on, and is on a campaign to instigate his supporters with claims
of fraud.
But there are also those within Barisan who cannot accept the reality of the
results.
Yes, the fact is that 90% of the Chinese votes went to Pakatan, or more
precisely the DAP. Foolish as it may seem, many of these voters believed they
could change the Barisan government. They wanted to punish Umno but
ended up punishing the Chinese-based component parties instead.
Not many are ready to admit that they have been strategically wrong and that
emotions had overcome their better judgment. Some do not care, happy that
they have punished Barisan.
Be that as it may, there are also the genuine grievances affecting the Chinese
community that must be addressed, which may have got lost in the heat of the
campaign. These are issues that require critical examination of the root
causes, not just the symptoms.
But the so-called Chinese tsunami has also resulted in a backlash from the
more conservative Malay crowd, who feel a sense of betrayal. Whether this is
a logical conclusion or not is not the issue, but they cannot understand why
moderate Malay leaders like Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Datuk Abdul
Ghani Othman have been ditched.
A large section of Umno members are angry and hurt that after what the PM
has done for the Chinese voters, they went the other way.
A long campaign, fatigue and disappointment have led to raw emotions being
displayed, but cool heads and logic must prevail.
There is no need for intimidating messages and reports, particularly those
which smack of racism, whether via the social platform or traditional media.
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7. All media should be sensitive in their reporting. Don't go the social media way.
It does not augur well for the country when a mainstream Bahasa Malaysia
daily took on a racial slant in its edition yesterday.
In a highly-charged political atmosphere, racial remarks can be easily
magnified and such foolishness should be avoided. And we must not get the
impression that such antics are endorsed or encouraged either.
It is one thing to analyse how the voting patterns went and how the different
ethnic groups voted, but it goes against the grain of democracy when voters
are blamed and threatened.
It is no different from PR supporters who still want to stage the so-called silent
protest, wearing black shirts and face masks. It's their right but for every
action, there is also a counter-action. The elections are over, DAP has won
big, so move on and get on with your lives.
Those who still scream about the indelible ink being easily washed off also
need to realise that this is the first time such an archaic method is being used.
Even in India, such practices have been condemned but many have chosen to
forget that it was one of the demands made by non-governmental groups.
Many were quick to condemn the Election Commission, quickly ridiculing it as
laughable when the EC said the ink washed off easily because the bottles of
ink had not been properly shaken before use. These same people are,
however, quick to defend and forgive purported computer glitches over the
DAP's party election results involving just a small group of party delegates.
Losers suddenly became winners and vice-versa in a boggling turnaround
exercise. Certainly, it left many in the party shaken.
But that is history. It's the same with the results of the elections. The decisions
have been made. Whether it is a Malaysian tsunami or Chinese tsunami, the
results are irreversible.
It is more important now for the political parties to be honest with their self-
assessment and review their campaign strategies to win back those who voted
against them this time.
It is basic politics an election is about winning the hearts and minds of the
people not blaming or threatening them.
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