Inaccurate! Rais slams foreign media

The minister says the foreign media has a political agenda to portray Malaysia in a bad light.

KUALA LUMPUR: The foreign media enjoys portraying Malaysia as a nation plagued with problems, Information, Communications and Arts Minister Rais Yatim said.

Commenting on the recent Bersih 2.0 rally, he claimed that international news agencies preferred to sensationalise an issue and portray Malaysia in a bad light as it fitted their agenda well.

“They have their own political agenda,” he told a press conference here.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of Bersih supporters marched on the streets of the nation’s capital, calling for electoral reforms despite warnings from the police.

Although the government and the police claimed that minimal force was used on the demonstrators, the local alternative media and foreign media agencies such as al-Jazeera claimed otherwise, including tear gas being fired into a hospital.

Stating that the local print media had reported the event accurately, Rais, however, said local Internet news portals did not do so.

“All I can say is that the police did their job well,” he added.

‘Anwar preaching violence’

On the same matter, Rais urged Malaysians to be wary of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s statement yesterday that the country was nearing a revolution.

“He is condoning a violent approach to achieve political power,” he said.

Yesterday, Anwar told over 100 youths in a dialogue session that the people should continue to pressure the government for democratic reforms, be it from inside the Parliament or outside.

He also said that youths should continue championing the cause and a revolution was imminent.

Taking Anwar to task, Rais reminded the opposition leader that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was leading the nation and the best way to air his grievances was through Parliament.

“Remember, the Parliament is the top decision-making body in the country and a revolution will sideline the august house,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rais told reporters that the Cabinet had yet to deliberate on the Royal Commission of Inquiry’s report over the death of Selangor political aide, Teoh Beng Hock.

“We are waiting for Najib to return from his overseas trip,” he said.

Last month, the commission headed by Federal Court judge James Foong submitted a copy of the report to the King and the prime minister after months of gathering evidence and taking statements from witnesses.