Singapore's Channel News Asia Insight programme's executive producer Zainudin Afandi says the channel is standing by its documentary on Malaysia, and that the insights aired were objective and balanced. – YouTube screenshot, September 26, 2015.
Singapore's Channel News Asia documentary on its Insight programme featuring Malaysia titled "A fractured nation" is balanced and interviewed a spectrum of people, said its producer, disputing an Umno's minister accusation that the programme was biased and only interviewed opposition members.
Insight's executive producer Zainudin Afandi said the channel prided itself on its "objective insights", borne from being from the region and invested in the region.
He said the Insight episode aired on Thursday night was their sixth on their political developments in Malaysia since April.
"Contrary to the Bernama report quoting Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak, Channel NewsAsia did not interview any opposition parties in Malaysia.
"Channel NewsAsia interviewed the organiser of Bersih 4.0, Maria Chin Abdullah, who is not a member of the opposition.
"We believe that her views provided insight and balance to the story.
"The programme also interviewed the organiser of the 'red shirt' rally, Umno divisional chief Datuk Jamal Md Yunos. We also aired the views of the former Malacca chief minister and Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ali Rustam," he said in a statement posted on CNA's website last night.
Writing in his blog, Salleh had said the Singaporean broadcaster should have been more balanced by interviewing members of the ruling party, adding that it had only interviewed opposition members.
"The report on Malaysia Day is unfair, biased and regrettable, and should be rectified," Salleh said, adding that the documentary portrayed Malaysia as having many problems, which was not the case.
Three observers had also offered their views in the documentary: Dr Maszlee Malik of the International Islamic University of Malaysia, Singaporean analyst Dr Ooi Kee Beng and Merdeka Center's Ibrahim Suffian.
They said the race card was being used because it offered Datuk Seri Najib Razak assurance that he still had support, even as the embattled prime minister and Umno president continued to face scrutiny over his governance and alleged scandals.
Defending the programme, Zainudin said the trio had spoken from an "objective and unbiased standpoint".
"Nevertheless, Channel NewsAsia would welcome the opportunity to interview Salleh Said Keruak on the situation in Malaysia, which has generated interest internationally," he added.
- TMI
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