It was classic news blackout Malaysia-style, when the BN-controlled print and electronic media omitted an incident at the much-publicised Chinese New Year concert featuring South Korean singing sensation Psy.
MCA mouthpiece The Star, for example, which had been building up the momentum to Psy's arrival, front-paged the report today, carefully skipping any mention of the incident which has gone viral on the Internet.
Just hours after Psy performed, dozens of video clips appeared on YouTube, showing prime minister Najib Razak being greeted with shouts of 'No!' by the huge crowd who had gathered at the grounds of the Han Chiang High School in Penang to watch live the YouTube record-setting hit 'Gangnam Style'.
"Are you ready for Psy?" Najib, who took the role of the emcee to welcome the Korean star, asked thrice, and the eagerly-waiting crowd replied "Yes!"
However, in what could likely indicate the voting trend at the next general election, the crowd shouted "No!" when he asked "Are you ready for BN?"
The clip was soon copied and re-uploaded under different titles, clearly a case of users hoping to cash in on its impending popularity to attract hits on their respective YouTube channels. Even as the BN open house was underway at noon, the clips had collectively generated more than 100,000 hits.
Viral factsheet
Despite the video evidence, pro-UMNO bloggers wasted no time coming to Najib's defence, and claimed that the shouts of "No!" were by a minority who stood at the back rows.
This led to another clip showing the incident from a different angle, much closer to the stage where Najib stood. This time, it was clear that the crowd's response to his question was indeed an emphatic 'no' (see video here).
Alongside the clip, a 7-point 'factsheet' about Psy's concert is also being eagerly shared on Facebook and other social media.
"Highlights of the day! Like and share this before Utusan or NST spread their lies!" runs the heading.
Among others, it claims that Najib was snubbed by silence from the crowd when he attempted to get them to participate in shouts of "Satu Malaysia".
The posting takes a jibe at Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor, who belted out a song in Chinese, and regards that another attempt to woo the audience with the Chinese-speaking skills of the prime minister's son Nor Ashman as having "failed miserably".
It also notes that Psy did not appear on stage together with Najib despite the former's show being highlight of the Barisan Nasional event.
"No group photos, no handshakes. As soon as PSY shouted, 'Thank you very much!', and while Najib was still trembling in his seat, people left theirs, leaving behind piles of uneaten food. The Emcee was as quiet as a clam, knowing that it would be impossible to call the crowd back," it recalls.
It then concludes: "Psy came for the money. The people came for the free food and performances. Who cares about BN and its bid for power?"
MCA mouthpiece The Star, for example, which had been building up the momentum to Psy's arrival, front-paged the report today, carefully skipping any mention of the incident which has gone viral on the Internet.
Just hours after Psy performed, dozens of video clips appeared on YouTube, showing prime minister Najib Razak being greeted with shouts of 'No!' by the huge crowd who had gathered at the grounds of the Han Chiang High School in Penang to watch live the YouTube record-setting hit 'Gangnam Style'."Are you ready for Psy?" Najib, who took the role of the emcee to welcome the Korean star, asked thrice, and the eagerly-waiting crowd replied "Yes!"
However, in what could likely indicate the voting trend at the next general election, the crowd shouted "No!" when he asked "Are you ready for BN?"
The clip was soon copied and re-uploaded under different titles, clearly a case of users hoping to cash in on its impending popularity to attract hits on their respective YouTube channels. Even as the BN open house was underway at noon, the clips had collectively generated more than 100,000 hits.
Viral factsheet
Despite the video evidence, pro-UMNO bloggers wasted no time coming to Najib's defence, and claimed that the shouts of "No!" were by a minority who stood at the back rows.
This led to another clip showing the incident from a different angle, much closer to the stage where Najib stood. This time, it was clear that the crowd's response to his question was indeed an emphatic 'no' (see video here).
Alongside the clip, a 7-point 'factsheet' about Psy's concert is also being eagerly shared on Facebook and other social media.
"Highlights of the day! Like and share this before Utusan or NST spread their lies!" runs the heading.
Among others, it claims that Najib was snubbed by silence from the crowd when he attempted to get them to participate in shouts of "Satu Malaysia".
The posting takes a jibe at Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor, who belted out a song in Chinese, and regards that another attempt to woo the audience with the Chinese-speaking skills of the prime minister's son Nor Ashman as having "failed miserably".
It also notes that Psy did not appear on stage together with Najib despite the former's show being highlight of the Barisan Nasional event.
"No group photos, no handshakes. As soon as PSY shouted, 'Thank you very much!', and while Najib was still trembling in his seat, people left theirs, leaving behind piles of uneaten food. The Emcee was as quiet as a clam, knowing that it would be impossible to call the crowd back," it recalls.
It then concludes: "Psy came for the money. The people came for the free food and performances. Who cares about BN and its bid for power?"
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