Why we need the media to step up

Bernama pic.

Malaysians in general and news media in particular are too benign when it comes to asking questions and holding politicians accountable.

We tend to give too much reverence to our ministers and politicians when seeking clarification from them. Sometimes at the end of press conferences or interviews, the people are left no wiser than they were before.

Please don’t get me wrong – I am not advocating disrespect for our ministers and politicians. I am asking for clarity of mind and assertiveness among our journalists when attending press conferences.

Within the context of the New Malaysia, ministers and politicians must avail themselves to more thorough questioning and scrutiny. They should not cut short journalists and reporters trying to ask difficult questions or wanting to follow up on protracted issues.

Journalists, on the other hand, must show resolve when formulating questions. Ambiguous questions beget ambiguous answers.

Politicians, if given the leeway, would love to indulge in vagueness and double talk. Journalists can help to reduce such ambiguity by asking well thought-out questions.

If the answers given by our politicians are not satisfactory, journalists must follow up with more questions. I would prefer our journalists to spar with ministers and politicians rather than taking down everything they say at face value.

For example, when ministers and politicians openly promote and justify racism, bigotry and cronyism, why can’t the media ask hard questions? A toxic idea, if not challenged, will become mainstream someday.

The media must play its role as the fourth estate; nothing can be more effective than a crop of well-educated, assertive and independent journalists.

We want journalists to ask hard questions, not the “butter” questions which I find so prevalent these days.

TK Chua is an FMT reader.