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©The Sun (Used by permission)
by R. Nadeswaran

OVER the past 11 years, Terence Fernandez and I have met them all – loud mouthed bullies, self-appointed doomsayers, critics and the "know-alls" who make accusations against the mainstream media, especially theSun. As seasoned journalists, we have challenged their claims and the "hearsay" evidence that they produce.

When someone says "So and so made RM500 million from the PKFZ deal", our reaction has been to ask: "Can you verify that with documents?" or "where did you get that kind of information?" The justification will be: "It’s all over the Net. Don’t tell me you didn’t read it!" So, are we print journalists supposed to quote "facts and figures" from the Net without verification?

Two weeks ago, a reader writing anonymously complained against unsolicited mail he gets from real estate agents. My response was: "What am I supposed to do?" The retort was: "Is there a gag order in effect? I thought that issues such as this would at least be given a mention, if not a column ... or perhaps I am dreaming of better times?" So, if your complaint does not get a mention, there’s a gag order. That’s the interpretation and word gets around that there’s a gag order.

It has been said several times that this writer cannot provide the answer for all the ills that afflict this nation and neither can he address all the problems faced by the citizens. In my own small way, I bring it to the attention of the authorities, who in most cases choose not to act.

I have always supported my brethren journalists if they had done no wrong. In 1992, I walked into the Brickfields police station to demand why my colleague, the late Raymond Nathan, was handcuffed behind his back. His "offence" was to have harshly demanded why an accident victim was not attended to immediately. However, I will not offer any support or sympathy to those who break the law.

In January, an over-zealous Petaling Jaya school headmaster confiscated my colleague’s camera. He claimed that the photographer had trespassed into the school to take pictures of its playground which was leased to a company to be used for parking cars of its employees.

When told that he should not take the law into his own hands, he called the police. We went to the police station where he wanted to make a deal – you don’t write about the car park and I will return the camera. My reply was: No deal! He eventually came to his senses and returned the camera and we published the story.

That is why I went berserk on Wednesday when I heard that another colleague was insulted at the court complex in Shah Alam when she told two men to keep quiet when court proceedings were in progress. One was a Klang Municipal Councillor and after it made the news, we had calls from several people offering their sympathies and support. The reporter, understandably, was traumatised by the events. The councillor on the other hand stood his ground – no remorse, no apology – and said: "Don’t think that because you are a reporter, you are king."

No, we are not asking for special privileges or to be treated as royalty. All we want is space to do our jobs as best as we can in the circumstances and the environment we are working in. We have enough other obstacles like stringent laws, deep-pocketed crooks who send us "love letters" at a drop of a hat. We just want to do what is required of us – to report and comment without being harassed by some half-baked politician who can’t even converse in English.

We do not want special dispensation of the law or be given immunity from prosecution. I am as liable as you, the reader, if I break the law. But to pass judgment and make insulting comments without understanding or comprehension of the facts is unacceptable. As for the councillor, we have been told that he is not likely to be re-appointed after his term ends next month, but is that the solution? Shouldn’t he as a councillor know the etiquette and the rules of conduct that should be obeyed while seated in the public gallery?

And the councillor’s clincher was: "We are all Indians. You must show some respect for an old man like me." Typical political stuff – when all else fails, throw in the race card. Respect, my friend, is earned, not demanded.

R. Nadeswaran does not want the councillor’s head on a silver platter. All he wants is that journalists be allowed to ply their trade without hindrance. Comments: citizen-nades@thesundaily.com