Media's role to keep new regime in check

 

For the past 10 days, the eyes and ears of the majority of citizens were on the election, its aftermath, and the lead-up to the prime minister’s appointment.

However, because of the intensity of these events, many would have not noticed or may have ignored when some of the darkest days in our history were being related at the High Court where Najib Abdul Razak is on trial for four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.28 billion from 1MDB.

At the outset, let me declare my interest. Tong Kooi Ong, the current chairperson of The Edge was also the executive vice chairperson of Sun Media Corporation Bhd from 2004 until 2007. I worked for The Sun from 1999 until my retirement in 2016.

Although he was not involved in day-to-day affairs, he would occasionally meet editors on editorial matters and at functions where no one talked shop.

From the witness box, Tong gave specific instances of how The Edge was threatened by those involved and associated with the world’s biggest theft of public money.

His testimony, often candid, also encompassed how instruments of the state were used to harass him.

Answering questions from lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, he said: “The Edge wrote more and more reports. But each time we did it, there was more and more pressure on us from the various state apparatus, whether they be barring me from leaving (the country), or income tax raid, or police questioning, and so on and obviously, the suspension of The Edge and arrest of (CEO Ho) Kay Tat and (The Malaysian Insider CEO) Jahabar (Saddiq) and so, and put that together with the threat that was already coming from Paul Stadlen, it appears that someone was trying to stop us, yeah.”

Stadlen, then-prime minister Najib Razak’s media adviser, told Tong that the Prime Minister’s Office was “all-powerful” and that The Edge should be careful about its coverage of 1MDB.

Singing Najib’s praises

Tong was not the only publisher who was harassed. Officials from most media houses and selected editors attended regular “briefings” at which they would be “advised” on the line they should take.

Often, word would trickle down from the fourth floor of the PM’s Office that no negative reports should be published by local newspapers.

Some of them would write commentaries demonising those who exposed the sham and join the sycophants in praising Najib. It did not stop there. They went further trying to show their closeness to the establishment by publishing photographs with Najib on social media.

They have since “turned” and have written glorious pieces on “justice has been done” after Najib was sent to prison. A few hedged their bets – remaining silent.

Such clampdowns and diktats were not restricted to just the media. They included government officials and ministers. Instead of revealing the truth, they not only were hushing them but some partook in spinning.

Many were singing praises of Najib and one smart alec even created a new angle to the 1MDB fiasco – “The scandal does not exist. It is an attempt by the opposition and foreign powers to overthrow the democratically elected government of Najib.”

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak

Amid this, there were a few lone voices - the opposition and the advocates of good governance. They expressed their repugnance towards the state of affairs in a series of blogs and videos.

When these did not work, the long knives were out and no one was spared. Readers will remember how then-Attorney General Gani Patail was unceremoniously removed and the then MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed was prematurely sent to pasture.

‘The press failed the people’

At a recent book launch, Johan Jaaffar, the doyen of the media industry, lamented the state of affairs when the 1MDB scandal broke.

“I have been asking a series of questions pertaining to what actually happened. What is the role of the journalists under such circumstances? Why did most of us fail to voice our concerns when the scandal was unfolding? Very few among us sounded the alarm even after facts and figures were revealed by The Sarawak Report.

“Many among us were just ignoring the elephant in the room. We knew something was not right. Perhaps many were not privy to the details, but as one expose after another unfolded and some opposition leaders at the time harped on the issue relentlessly at the Dewan Rakyat, many among us were unconvinced, or worse decided to close one eye.”

The press, he said, failed the people and betrayed the trust of readers, viewers, and listeners, adding that many, especially in the mainstream media, chose to ignore the facts, which is against the very thing that we are supposed to do – to be the eyes and ears of the people.

Readers will recall the infamous TV programme in which pliant editors “interviewed” Najib on television and declared he had done no wrong, while in faraway Thailand, a whistle-blower had to cool his heels at the notorious Bangkok Hilton.

But the saving grace was that there were a few brave voices – a few individuals in the media, opposition leaders, and advocates of good governance. They expressed their repugnance towards the state of affairs openly, incurring the wrath of the people in power.

Now, with a new government and a new prime minister who has promised openness and accountability, the media should ensure that similar shenanigans will not be repeated and the people will not have to be burdened by the theft of public money.

We have seen several journalists pandering to the newbies in government but if similar corrupt incidents surface and if the instruments of the state are misused, they have a duty to tell the truth. Let not history repeat itself. - Mkini

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R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.