‘Buy newspapers for obituary section’

Apart from the updates on who has passed on, ABU leader Haris Ibrahim says there is no other reason to buy newspapers, since the mainstream media is controlled by BN.

VIDEO INSIDE

PETALING JAYA: The only reason to buy newspapers is for the obituary section, according to human rights activist and Anything But Umno (ABU) movement leader Haris Ibrahim.

In an informal video interview with FMT, the lawyer spoke about how Barisan Nasional and Umno manipulated the news to remain in power and this is the reason why ABU called for a boycott of the mainstream media.

“If you want to know who died yesterday, you buy the usual newspapers.

“Utusan (Malaysia) we boycott, Berita Harian we boycott, (The Star group chief editor) Wong Chun Wai’s toilet paper also we boycott,” he said, urging the public to read online news portals instead.

Haris also accused the ruling coalition and the BN-owned media of using the race card to ensure that Malays continued to support Umno.

On a similar note, he also criticised Pakatan Rakyat for not creating a truly independent media as espoused in the People’s Declaration that was signed prior to 2008.

Using the examples of the Selangor state owned Selangor Today and Selangor Kini, he said the newspapers merely served as propaganda tools for Pakatan and are not independent.

“It cannot replace Utusan Malaysia,” he said.

Apart from this, Haris also stressed on the need to oust Umno and BN in the next general election.

“If you don’t make the change now, there won’t be Malaysia and the Malaysian economy in the next two years,” he said.