Stoking Racial Hatred or Sloppy Editing?

Recently, it was reported in Utusan Malaysia and Bernama that Lim Guan Eng had mentioned the May 13 incident. In actual fact, it was Utusan Malaysia and Bernama that had pitted Malays against non-Malays.

While I do agree that the opposition are WELL-MEANING a series of missteps have squandered them a lot of goodwill. I am referring to Lim Guan Eng’s “scrapping” of the NEP. It could have been spun more carefully. And of course Lim Kit Siang’s “order” to the Perak Assemblyman not to attend the swearing in ceremony.

Contrast that with how Tan Sri Khalid has handled the transition as well as his PR coups of visiting the Indian temple and the statement about renegotiating the water rights.

Read Jeff Ooi’s entry of 15 Mar 2008.
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All leaders in states not controlled by Umno dominance must be careful.

In the aftermath of the Abdullah debacle in GE2008, Utusan Malaysia and Bernama became the two media organisations that stoked political hatred, pitting Malays against non-Malays.

Both the media groups framed Lim Guan Eng for a mention of May 13, which the new Penang CM didn’t say. I knew as I stood behind him during the press interview. And the CM’s press secretary confirmed the same.

We queried Khalid Mohd, the Group Editor-in-Chief of Utusan. He passed the buck to Bernama, saying that his paper had used the national news agency’s dispatch, though his reporters were present during Guan Eng’s interview.

We took Khalid at face value and queried Yong Soo Heong, the Editor-in-Chief of Bernama. He faxed us this letter yesterday, which I reproduce verbatim:

March 14, 2008

YAB Sdra Lim Guan Eng
Chief Minister of Penang
28th Fl, Komtar
10502 Penang

Dear YAB,

On behalf of my colleagues in BERNAMA, I would like to congratulate your team and you for the recent victory in Penang.

I would also like to take this opportunity to apologise for the sloppy editing in the news story of March 12, 2008, which we mistakenly quoted you as commenting on the May 13 incident as well. The inclusion of the fact was intended to give background on the establishment of the NEP in 1971. Nevertheless, upon a thorough review, the inclusion of that fact along with your quote may have been inappropriate.

As we move forward, I would like to ensure you of BERNAMA’s co-operation for your newly-formed government and shall always endeavour to help you promote the well-being of Penang and its people.

Yours sincerely,

YONG SOO HEONG
Editor-in-Chief

The Utusan-Bernama ruckus started when Guan Eng announced all government procurements in Penang will be through open tender — something that the NEP did not address and went on to create cronies and entrench corruption in the system.

I hope the next time Umno leaders took to the streets to stoke people’s sentiments along racial lines, you know who is to blame.

From tawkthewawk.wordpress.com – Yazmin

Sunday, 9th of March 2008

That day, the future of thousands of people had a rebirth. A momentous occasion I will tell my children about one day, when we realised that all hope is not lost. When the people realised that the power was still in their hands.

But that’s old news really.

My mother has been buying rice and fish and cans of sardins. The NEP, she says as she packs food away in cupboards and freezers, has been abolished in Penang. You don’t know, she chides me, what it was like during 13 May. Laugh if you want, she grumbles, but you’ll be thankful if anything happens.

I reminded my mother about what Tun Dr Ismail said – that the NEP was like a handicap in golf which “will enable them to be good players, as in golf, and in time the handicap will be removed. The Malays must not think of these privileges as permanent: for then, they will not put effort into their tasks. In fact, it is an insult for Malays to be getting these privileges.”

It is all well and good, my mother replied, to know that we don’t need the NEP. But don’t forget, the Malays are a hot headed emotional lot. All it takes is one person to say something stupid, and you might not have your Chinese friends tomorrow.

It’s a painful time for her. My mother grew up in Kampung Baru during 13 May. She often retells the story of her Chinese best friend who walked to and back from school with her every day. She had long pigtails, my mother would say. And one day, she was gone. My mother didn’t get a chance to save her. Her whole family was killed and their house was burned to the ground.

I drove past my old house earlier, my mother whispered quietly to herself. The land where her family’s house used to stand is still empty, still vacant. No one survived to inherit that square piece of land. Whole family wiped out. Wiped out, just like that. When I went to school, her desk was empty, and my Chinese friends stared at me like I was the one who did it.

I know it’s painful, Ma, but it has to be done. This NEP nonsense is like a drug. We Malays are high, living with the purple hippos and the pink elephants dancing.

I know, I know. I’m just worried that’s all. Not everyone sees it that way, unfortunately. You and I do, but all it takes is one person who doesn’t understand, and all this will come to nothing.