http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=347346
KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 (Bernama) — Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the government has never meddled in the selection of news items by the media including those by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).He said the media was free to decide on the priority and never directed for certain news to be carried or which should be dropped.
“We want the media to think what is news value. I have never directed on what news to be given priority or not and leave it to RTM and the other media to find decide on the priority,” he said after presenting prizes at the international Mandarin debating competition here tonight.
Ahmad Shabery was commenting on the statement by PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik that the media had given excessive coverage to the sodomy case of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim causing disgrace although he has yet to be proven guilty.
The Kelantan Menteri Besar was disappointed that Anwar’s arrest was given wide coverage while his release was only given brief mention.
Ahmad Shabery said Anwar’s case would have been given wider coverage in a country which practices total media freedom.
“It would have become a lot bigger in a country without media control as the media will opt for sensationalism craved by the masses, just to sell the newspapers.”
He said the media reports were not made on government orders but in the interest of the people who wanted to know the latest developments.
Ahmad Shabery urged the media particularly RTM not to sensationalise the matter and to be fair to those involved.
– BERNAMA
“… and we also insist that the ISA is never used to silence dissent, Anwar is not guilty and was that a flying pig I just saw?”
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Meanwhile, I came across a delightful interview in TIME with Harry Shearer
………….?
[Homer Simpson laaa...]
Harry Shearer on Political Satire
Excerpt:
Freud says you laugh about what you fear. On that basis, Bush has provided many more laughs because the fear level has gone up so drastically.
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