A reporter from an English language daily was barred from covering a programme organised by the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama) in Penang yesterday, on grounds that she may get the wrong impression about the issues being raised.
It is learnt that the New Straits Times reporter, who declined to be interviewed by Malaysiakini, was taken aside and told that the event dubbed ‘Fama to targets agro-markets in 2014' involving some 300 agriculture entrepreneurs was for Malay Muslims only.
After that, the reporter was given a press kit and told to contact the Fama administration if she needed further information on the event.
Incidentally, she was the only non-Malay journalist assigned to cover the event who was barred, as the rest of the Malay reporters were allowed in.
Fama is the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry's marketing arm for agricultural products.
Fama apologises
It is learnt that the New Straits Times reporter, who declined to be interviewed by Malaysiakini, was taken aside and told that the event dubbed ‘Fama to targets agro-markets in 2014' involving some 300 agriculture entrepreneurs was for Malay Muslims only.
After that, the reporter was given a press kit and told to contact the Fama administration if she needed further information on the event.
Incidentally, she was the only non-Malay journalist assigned to cover the event who was barred, as the rest of the Malay reporters were allowed in.
Fama is the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry's marketing arm for agricultural products.
Fama apologises
State Fama corporate affairs director Habibah Sulaiman when asked about the barring of the reporter from the event was very apologetic and said, "Firstly, I want to say sorry if the reporter had misunderstood our action."
She denied banning or chasing the reporter away from the function.
"We did not chase her out but explained to her that the programme is a kind of motivational session, to encourage and lift up the spirits of the entrepreneurs," Habibah told Malaysiakini.
"The session touched on Islam and the economy of the bumiputeras. We did not want the reporter to have any negative perception after going through the session," she added.
"Understanding of issues can be different for people from different communities and we did not want to create a misunderstanding."
Asked about suspicions raised that sensitive and racial issues were brought up at the event, Habibah said: "There was no racism there at all."
The session featured a talk by Fama chairperson Badruddin Amiruldin and she denied that his talk had any element of racism.
The session emphasised on religion, Habibah said, and Fama was concerned that a non-Malay reporter may "wrongly perceive" the situation or the discussions that ensued.
"Please help me counter the allegation (that we barred the reporter because of her race) as it was never meant to be like that at all," she said.
"We just did not want her to misinterpret the situation or perceive the matter negatively."
Habibah also apologised on behalf of her officer who dealt with the reporter, saying "I am not sure how she did it, but I am sorry."
State exco member: Is Fama spinning something?
State Agro-based Industries, Rural Development and Flood Mitigation Committee chairperson Law Choo Kiang said Fama as an agency involved in marketing agricultural produce should not have elements of religion in its events.
"They were obviously trying to spin something at the event," Law (left) said.
"There might be some hidden agenda, for I have never heard of a Fama programme that is only for Muslims or bumiputeras," he added.
Law said with the general election just around the corner, the BN may be using this agency to try to win Malay votes.
"Government agencies should not allow political interference in their professional duties but in this case, they are obviously being used by their political masters."
On the same note, the state executive councillor in charge of Muslim religious affairs Abdul Malik Kassim said the Fama function reflected how the BN and Umno portrayed Islam in "an opposite way" from the true teachings of the religion.
"Islam is a religion of peace, love, tolerance, harmony and understanding and the true teachings of Islam are simple and universal. So if the programme is not to create hatred, or have any negative aspects on non Muslims, why on earth bar them?" Malik asked.
"We, the Muslims, should welcome non-Muslims to learn, understand and appreciate Islam so as to promote harmony among people of various racial and religious backgrounds," he added.
"Even non-Muslims are invited to listen to our Friday congregation. This is an example set by renowned religious leader Sheik Yusoff al Qardawi of Egypt.
"However, what is it in this motivation course (by Fama) that they do not want the non-Muslims to hear?" Malik further asked.
She denied banning or chasing the reporter away from the function.
"We did not chase her out but explained to her that the programme is a kind of motivational session, to encourage and lift up the spirits of the entrepreneurs," Habibah told Malaysiakini.
"The session touched on Islam and the economy of the bumiputeras. We did not want the reporter to have any negative perception after going through the session," she added.
"Understanding of issues can be different for people from different communities and we did not want to create a misunderstanding."
Asked about suspicions raised that sensitive and racial issues were brought up at the event, Habibah said: "There was no racism there at all."
The session featured a talk by Fama chairperson Badruddin Amiruldin and she denied that his talk had any element of racism.
The session emphasised on religion, Habibah said, and Fama was concerned that a non-Malay reporter may "wrongly perceive" the situation or the discussions that ensued.
"Please help me counter the allegation (that we barred the reporter because of her race) as it was never meant to be like that at all," she said.
"We just did not want her to misinterpret the situation or perceive the matter negatively."
Habibah also apologised on behalf of her officer who dealt with the reporter, saying "I am not sure how she did it, but I am sorry."
State exco member: Is Fama spinning something?
State Agro-based Industries, Rural Development and Flood Mitigation Committee chairperson Law Choo Kiang said Fama as an agency involved in marketing agricultural produce should not have elements of religion in its events.
"They were obviously trying to spin something at the event," Law (left) said."There might be some hidden agenda, for I have never heard of a Fama programme that is only for Muslims or bumiputeras," he added.
Law said with the general election just around the corner, the BN may be using this agency to try to win Malay votes.
"Government agencies should not allow political interference in their professional duties but in this case, they are obviously being used by their political masters."
On the same note, the state executive councillor in charge of Muslim religious affairs Abdul Malik Kassim said the Fama function reflected how the BN and Umno portrayed Islam in "an opposite way" from the true teachings of the religion.
"Islam is a religion of peace, love, tolerance, harmony and understanding and the true teachings of Islam are simple and universal. So if the programme is not to create hatred, or have any negative aspects on non Muslims, why on earth bar them?" Malik asked.
"We, the Muslims, should welcome non-Muslims to learn, understand and appreciate Islam so as to promote harmony among people of various racial and religious backgrounds," he added.
"Even non-Muslims are invited to listen to our Friday congregation. This is an example set by renowned religious leader Sheik Yusoff al Qardawi of Egypt.
"However, what is it in this motivation course (by Fama) that they do not want the non-Muslims to hear?" Malik further asked.
Journalists demand full explanation
Penang Chinese Journalists and Photographers Association chairperson Chua Cheong Wee said if the agency had invited the newspaper to the event, the reporters should have been allowed to cover it.
Chua also expressed suspicions over the barring of a non-Malay reporter and asked, "Is Fama trying to hide something? Why didn’t they allow a non-Malay reporter to cover the event?"
As a government agency, he said, Fama is answerable to all and must explain the "biased treatment".
"Even if the event has Islamic elements, it would be the perfect platform for non-Muslims to attend it to learn more about it, so that they will not misunderstand the religion in the first place," Chua said.
Chua also expressed suspicions over the barring of a non-Malay reporter and asked, "Is Fama trying to hide something? Why didn’t they allow a non-Malay reporter to cover the event?"
As a government agency, he said, Fama is answerable to all and must explain the "biased treatment".
"Even if the event has Islamic elements, it would be the perfect platform for non-Muslims to attend it to learn more about it, so that they will not misunderstand the religion in the first place," Chua said.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.