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©New
Sunday Times (Used by permission)
by Sharanjit Singh & Lee Keng Fatt
Sensitive issues being raised on the platform of free speech, says prime
minister
TASEK GELUGOR: The prime minister yesterday called on
everyone to put a lid on issues which will affect racial harmony in the country.
Saying issues which touched on race, religion and the social contract could lead
to anger and disharmony, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi added: “Lately, issues
concerning race have become prevalent.
It has caused anxiety, a feeling of unhappiness among the races... This includes
the Malays and non-Malays.
“Things that should not have been raised, sensitive things have surfaced. This
has caused anger among the various races who feel their rights and sensitivities
have been overlooked or shunned.” Abdullah said this after chairing the state
Umno liaison committee meeting here.
He said this was purportedly happening on the platform of free speech and the
right to express views.
“We have always handled racial issues well before Independence until now. This
is our success and we should ensure that we protect it.” Touching on the role of
newspapers, blogs and SMS, Abdullah said: “Newspapers should not blow up news
related to sensitive issues.
They should not turn certain issues as their agenda to cause feelings of anxiety
and unhappiness among the various races.” Abdullah said among the matters
discussed were the alleged racist statement by Bukit Bendera Umno division chief
Datuk Ahmad Ismail, the recently-concluded Permatang Pauh by-election and Umno
divisional meetings in Penang.
Ahmad has been under fire for allegedly saying that the Chinese had no rights to
claim as they were considered squatters in Malaysia.
Abdullah said Ahmad informed the meeting that his statement had been
misinterpreted by a newspaper.
"He had explained that what he said was based on historical fact and that he was
not a racist.
"Ahmad is an Umno division chief and he explained that he had helped many
non-Malay Barisan Nasional candidates who contested in the Bukit Bendera
parliamentary constituency to secure victory," Abdullah said.
Abdullah, the Umno president said Ahmad said his statement was only picked up by
one Chinese newspaper while the others did not deem it worth reporting.
Abdullah said newspapers had lately been reporting news which could lead to
anger and this would not benefit anyone.
"We do not want chaos in our country. If there is chaos, no one will win.
"Everyone will lose and the country will face problems.
He added that it was important that newspapers understood that freedom of the
press did not mean they could report as they liked. It was not right, he said,
to sensationalise issues.
The prime minister pledged that the government would always ensure racial
harmony and the country's well-being.
On the Permatang Pauh by-election, Abdullah said the post-mortem report had been
completed by Umno and would be studied.
In Kemaman, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek advised the media to
exercise caution when interpreting sensitive issues, particularly on race and
religion, to prevent them from being manipulated by groups who are out to
undermine racial harmony.
Shabery said the media should first consider the matter carefully before
publishing their report.
"The media should be careful and they should know what should be the priority
and not simply report for the sake of reporting.
"We see that in certain issues, people tend to take advantage (of the press
reports)," he said after meeting the people in Kampung Che Wan, Kijal yesterday.
Shabery said Ahmad was merely stating the historical background, the facts of
which could not be denied.
Unfortunately, he said, the media had misquoted the speech, turning it into a
racial issue.
To a question, he said, he did not rule out the possibility that certain groups
were using the daily to achieve their agenda.
He said to prevent a recurrence, the government would set up a National Media
Council to act as a monitoring body to ensure that media reports were made based
on true journalistic ethics.
Shabery said the council would protect anyone who felt that he was being
ill-treated or being put under trial by the media without having the truth
established.
"We discussed this in last week's cabinet meeting and a working paper is
expected to be tabled by the Home Ministry soon."
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