The Home Minister of Malaysia, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is ‘blaming Chinese newspapers’ for “stoking the anger” of the families of those on the ill fated Boeing MH370.
That is a very serious allegation if not an a blatant accusation!
It is reported that the Minister said so in the august house of the Parliament, the Dewan Rakyat. And that he went on to further clarify that he was referring to the media in China.
“They have played up sentiment until they provoked the anger of the relatives of victims of MH370 especially those in China.” said Malaysia’s Home Minister.
It makes the media in China look very, very bad!
And if that was not enough, Zahid reiterated that the government of Malaysia should not be blamed for the loss of MH370 because it was an “accident”.
Woe-be- thine!
Do accidents DROP from heaven?
The first lesson for Malaysia's leaders is “accidents” do not drop from heaven, unless you have conclusive evidence that a thunderbolt struck the plane in mid-air. And even then, an accident takes place because of the fusion of two factors, namely an unsafe condition and an unsafe act. But let us keep this lesson for another time.
More importantly, how on earth is Malaysia expected to salvage its battered reputation in the eyes of the world if you have senior leaders taking such provocative and tauntingly hostile positions right in the middle of an unresolved mystery that has 239 lives at stake involving citizens of over a dozen nations?
Has the Malaysian Minister not learnt in school, college or within the corridors of power and politics that one should never slay the camel you need to depend on when out in the desert?
Has he never been told that one should not go to war with the media especially when you are stuck in an extremely vulnerable position, not knowing truth from lies, facts from assumptions?
China media not like the Malaysian-Chinese media here - under Umno's thumb!
And in the midst of the most unwanted news of a state-of-art aircraft tragedy that has global implications of epic proportions, we have to witness yet another Malaysia-stance hammering the China media.
Yes, Malaysians may have put up with the guns galore that keep pounding their local media that are not patriotically aligned to the world’s longest ruling political party – given the oppressive Publishing and Printing Act in the country and for not getting of permits to operate a free and responsible press.
But stop treating media from other nations too in like manner. Woe-be-thine to any leader who thinks he or she can muzzle free press – the icon of human freedom, dignity and democracy. And neither appear as trying to kill the sheep to get the wool needed in an attempt to pull wool over the eyes of the peering global community.
Travel agencies have started to cold-shoulder 'things Malaysian'
Let Mr. Zahid be told too. Mongolia media may not have created a global outcry over Malaysia’s brutal and world unprecedented slaying of their one citizen, Altantuya Shaaribuu in the backyard of Malaysia.
But certainly China’s media will not lie back and swallow bait, hook and line for as long as there are no globally acceptable answers given with honorable and timely accountability on the missing aircraft that involves 152 of its citizens.
For that matter not even the media in the USA, or any of the nations whose citizens are unaccounted for till this day since the reported missing aircraft, would take an indiffrent and univolved position.
China media is not going to patronize the UMNO-BN government at the expense of the outcries that are already sweeping across that vast nation. Already the on-line media and traditional press is abuzz with campaigns from celebrities to business communities to boycott Malaysian products.
Even travel agencies in China have started cancelling MAS promotions back in their homeland.
Get honest Honorable Home Minister of Malaysia. Stop pushing Malaysia over the cliff of extreme vulnerability?
Why should China media listen to you!
Can Malaysia afford a media war with China? Can Malaysia afford a “Buy Last Malaysia” campaign in China – like what Malaysia’s former premier Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed did when he went ballistic with the “Buy British Last” campaign to muster his political agenda back home.
You must be kidding. Certainly you cannot be naïve by virtue of the fact that you are the Home Minister. The China media is not going to stop here. It will by any measure, do extensive investigative journalism till the ultimate truth is out in the open.
Certainly you cannot ask the China media to be ‘less hostile’. Surely you cannot ask the China media to be kind and sympathetic to you or your pack of leaders who are spearheading this tragedy.
What you need to recognize is they are not Malaysian media who can be threatened, cajoled and stifled with threats, circulation seizures, hefty law suits and withdrawal of permits.
Hold your tongue
Hence rather then accuse them of “stoking anger”, wisdom should have dictated that you held your tongue. And you would have done better for your nation and all the affected nations and their citizens if had chosen to court the world media -including China's Press with forthright information, clarifications and appeals on a timely, consistent and proactive manner.
Please Honorable Home Minister of Malaysia, do not further jeopardize Malaysia’s sovereignty, reputation and desperate need for correction.
Learn from Malaysia's early Sultanate whose wisdom prevailed when the Chinese war junks anchored on the Straits of Malacca.
They knew despite not having the internet advantage and social media how small was Malaya and knew too well too how to protect the reputation and dignity and honor of both nations. - MAILBAG
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