Zam Said People Are Not Ready For RTM To Be BBC
Thursday, 27-04-2006Below is the reply to my intervention during Zam’s reply to MPs’ speeches on RMK-9
Zam: No ‘live’ for racist Malaysians
Beh Lih Yi
Apr 27, 06 3:55pm
Racist Malaysian viewers are not ready for live parliamentary proceedings, said Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin today.
According to him, local viewers were not up to the mark of their British counterparts.
This is because most Malaysians still think from a racial point of view, he added during his ministerial winding-up on the 9th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat.
He was replying to Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) who reiterated the opposition’s long-time demand for live telecast of the proceedings.
Earlier, Zainuddin said the coverage by the state-owned RTM station – which he oversees – is sufficient at present.
“The latest news of the proceedings are broadcasted hourly on (RTM) news (programmes) on television and radio, apart from live reporting from Parliament during the afternoon news,” he said
He added that the Tamil and Mandarin news sessions also gave focus to Parliamentary proceedings while the ministry has introduced a programme called ‘Parliament Today’.
The 30-minute programme shows a compilation of edited Parliamentary proceedings.
Third-world mentality
At this point, Kok interjected. She said the programme hardly featured speeches or views raised by opposition MPs.
She also claimed that many people have chosen not to watch RTM because the station is biased.
“RTM should learn from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) which practices impartiality and allows the views from both sides to be heard,” she added.
It was to this remark that Zainuddin said Malaysian viewers were not up to the standard of BBC viewers.
The minister reaffirmed this at a press conference later by saying that it was not time yet to have live broadcasts because Malaysians still have a ‘third world mentality’.
“We have not reached an intellectual stage where Malaysians can carry the wisdom of being able to agree to disagree,” he added.
Previously, the government cited high cost, audience rating and racial sensitivity as reasons for rejecting the proposal.
Correction – this minister has third world thinking and not the malaysian. In fact most of the ministers has third world thinking. Look at the ‘hand-holding’ issue!! Perhaps the judges are also like the minister, too!! Malaysia, Oh, Malaysia. Kick all the ministers who has third world thinking and set Malaysia onto the right path!!
Comment by DewnAsing — Thursday, 27-04-2006 @ 18: 29.44
Zam’s reply is totally unacceptable. What he afraid is that by going for live telecast, it is the racial mentality of BN MPs will be exposed to the rakyat.
Comment by lauwengsan — Thursday, 27-04-2006 @ 21: 12.59
The racial mentality was created by BN MPs and gorvenment.
!!
U want proof? So many lah
Comment by perfect10 — Friday, 28-04-2006 @ 00: 12.23
For once I agree with a BN minister. We Malaysians are racist.
But who created it? It also does not help when these inept MPs playing race cards in parliment to score points.
Perhaps they are afraid to let enlightned malaysians ses how incompetent, not serious, sex or racew obsesses and hopeless they are when real issues needs tackling.
On the other hand, not so enligthen Malaysians may get excited by their inflamotary exchanges and adopt a mob mentality and start damaging property and people.
Are Malaysians that stoopid? I think some are.
If you watch Astro channel 19’s talking issue (in mandarin” yi shi lun shi). The quality of the exchanges are mature, enlightening, a joy to watch and smacks clear of racism and stupidity that some of the MP been reported in the media (check: divorcess are gatal)
Comment by lee wee tak_ — Friday, 28-04-2006 @ 08: 05.11
I agree with wee tak. Parlimentarians, no matter which side of the fence they sit, do back their arguments base on racism. During my early years covering parlimentary sessions (mid 80s to early 90s), My boss actually discourage me from going, as I might get pissed at some remarks targetted at my race.
Those who had been in parlimentary seatings would say yes, most issues are looked at from the racial angle. Period.
That is why RTM screens only the edited version!
Comment by pemerhati_msia — Friday, 28-04-2006 @ 11: 09.34
Zam is lazy. If he can argue this successfully, he doesn’t have to do anything much while being heralded as true to his distorted view of his bangsa. Now he has more time to do other ‘extra-curricular activity’ during ‘masa kerja’ aka ‘masa goyang kaki’.
Zam, shame on you! Third world mentality. Malaysians today want performance oriented ministers, not ministers lacking in character and ideas.
Comment by firehawk — Saturday, 29-04-2006 @ 03: 42.51
DewnAsing, before you make a comment, make sure you really understand the facts of the matter particularly in the case of what you had stated as third world thinking in the “hand-holding” issue. The judges have given a superb judgment (please read the judgment at the Malaysian Bar web site) as the issue before them is whether the subsidiary act is ultra vires of the parent act in legislating a moral policing bye-law. The issue of “hand-holding” which certain people claiming to be an indecent act was not put for adjudication. Therefore, the judges finding are correct in a pure legal sense. This is what i meant by third world thinking, commenting on some issue that you yourself don’t really fully understand and did not take further initiative to even study, peruse or analyse further so that a more comprehensive comment could be delivered than just mere venting of bias, unsustainable, unjustified, unclear, damaging and/or laughable remarks/comments.
Comment by seequa — Saturday, 29-04-2006 @ 15: 55.44
Thanks pemerhati_m’sia for your agreement.
Seequa, I agree that the judges are right in their ruling. Local Councils are not ultra vires as they do have a right to legislate behaviour in areas under their care – for example banning nudity, obscene sexual acts, vandalism, public nuisance etc.
I think the Malaysian public would be put off by one of the judge’s outburst that holding hands, kissing or hugging is not part of Asia Values.
That irks me. The judge got the first part right but the second part, perhaps it is orbiter dictum (things said along the way) gave us a clue on what that particular judge might be overemphasizing
Asian Value? The way our country is runned may defined Asian Value as don’t question the ruling party’s actions. Rakyat just be grateful and don’t rock the boat. Reminds me of a dinasour puppet show. In that show, a conglomerate exploit their employees an market and the name of the company? “wesayso”. Their TV advertisement would go on and on about their superior products and values (which was as blatant as that cartoon was) and ended their advertisement with the phase,”...because ‘wesayso’”
Comment by lee wee tak_ — Tuesday, 02-05-2006 @ 08: 14.37
Wee Tak, what is really Asian Value? I don’t intend to go into a heated argument but rather would like to have an intellectual dialogue. If we look back in times, we asian or most of asian will not show any love affection in the likes of hugging kissing or hand holding publicly except for parents holding the hands of their children. My great grandfather never holds the hands of his spouse nor his grown up children. However, due to western influences via tv and others these have slowly evolve into what we call ‘globally accepted norm’(which I personally think it’s good). That’s why one of the judges used the term “asian value”. What we accepted today is an evolved value. And as for what you claimed as ‘wesayso’ or ‘rakyat just be grateful and don’t rock the boat’ saying, we need to look further down to ourselves. Since, we are not agreeable with what the judges’ ruling, what steps have we taken? Did we petition to the Malaysian Bar for appeal? Did we petition to the Council to repeal such bye-law? Did we show the ruling party that if they don’t perform to the need of the Rakyat, we might not give them 2/3 majority or even to the extend of changing them all together? Have we done our part in educating the Rakyat and stand up for the ‘right’ cause? When again and again the ruling party fails the Rakyat, the Rakyat complaint protested demonstrated and others but never really exercise their power of voting. We got our “MERDEKA” without shedding bloods…and that is part of our value not that I’m implying that we should not fight for a good cause but what is really good cause when most of us still could not put down the racial barrier. What is our “National Value”? Malay can says no holding hands, chinese can says holding hands while indian can says both are acceptable and the lists can go on and on…The root of all this is the racial barrier which our politicians are all harping their catches.
Comment by seequa — Wednesday, 03-05-2006 @ 13: 56.53
Wee Tak, what is really Asian Value? I don’t intend to go into a heated argument but rather would like to have an intellectual dialogue.
—ok we don’t argue. I prefer discussion too. My previous post actually meant that I think the word has been hijacked to justify a particular argument by a few people on a few occassions.
To me it is really pointless to over-emphasis “asia values” if it is hijacked like this. It seems that it also implies that Asian values is superior to Western values. I would say both values, albeit different, have their own storng points. The Asians, for example, values conformity but the West looks for adventure and creativity…..
If we look back in times, we asian or most of asian will not show any love affection in the likes of hugging kissing or hand holding publicly except for parents holding the hands of their children. My great grandfather never holds the hands of his spouse nor his grown up children. However, due to western influences via tv and others these have slowly evolve into what we call ‘globally accepted norm’(which I personally think it’s good). That’s why one of the judges used the term “asian value”. What we accepted today is an evolved value.
—Yes, I agree with you on this part. As time evolve our behaviour changes. Just like fashion. Bikini, Spaghetti straps nowadays is quite normal. A few decades ago, it would be deemed unacceptable.
I think a mild show of affection in public, a peck on the cheek, a hug at airport, celebration on the football field is not “dirty”. We are at an age where we should be more mature and open about sexuality so as long as some display of affection is not obscene, I am all for it. Our society can be more loving and caring.
And as for what you claimed as ‘wesayso’ or ‘rakyat just be grateful and don’t rock the boat’ saying, we need to look further down to ourselves. Since, we are not agreeable with what the judges’ ruling, what steps have we taken? Did we petition to the Malaysian Bar for appeal? Did we petition to the Council to repeal such bye-law? Did we show the ruling party that if they don’t perform to the need of the Rakyat, we might not give them 2/3 majority or even to the extend of changing them all together?
—You are right. Judges interprete laws from parliment so if the composition of the parliment can be changed then the laws can be changed. Malaysia do not have a Lord Denning who is not confined to the “literal” rule in interpreting laws. Instead he is brave enough to look at the logic, purpose and effect of interpretation.
Have we done our part in educating the Rakyat and stand up for the ‘right’ cause? When again and again the ruling party fails the Rakyat, the Rakyat complaint protested demonstrated and others but never really exercise their power of voting.
—This puzzle me. I do not vote blindly but Malaysia’s election has been termed by external observers as biased. Many rural voters, I was told, are content with a “token gift” every 4 years. Educating the voters? Let ther be free press – let the Rocket, Harakah etc be sold publicly, grant press freedom to newspapers then the education, room for informed debates will come itself.
On our part, lets bring enlighten discussions into cyberspace, coffee shops, mamak stalls, taxis etc…the more we exchange ideas, the more mature and knowledgable we can get. Also look at the residents of PJ, they are not taking the crap from MPPJ quietly.
What is our “National Value”? Malay can says no holding hands, chinese can says holding hands while indian can says both are acceptable and the lists can go on and on…The root of all this is the racial barrier which our politicians are all harping their catches.
– I am not surprised. Instead of harping the word “tolerance” which imples an element of putting up with one another, the word in Malaysia should be “acceptance” where I accept you as you are and vice versa. I understand you and you understand me.
Comment by lee wee tak_ — Wednesday, 03-05-2006 @ 15: 55.19
I was a little surprised that the minister should come up with such a statement. It shows that in a way he is a tad out of touch with present day realities. In the freewheeling world of the internet to speak of not being ready for this or that does not reflect well on the minister. Zam, I’m afraid is not ready for this portfolio.
Comment by the malaysian — Wednesday, 03-05-2006 @ 19: 02.55
Indirectly he means that the MPs are racist and too stupid esp the BN ones to be viewed by the local viewers. Their shenanigans are not good models esp for young generation. So, should we vote them back in come the next round of election?
Comment by firehawk — Thursday, 04-05-2006 @ 18: 53.43