The trouble with Valentine’s Day in Malaysia

Why, oh why, nobody in Malaysia media or its band of journalists dare to grab this opportunity to write a good piece on this issue?

Every year we are treated with news of political parties sparring with each other over Valentine’s Day. Some doing so to protect the followers’ faith and the other wanting to appear as liberals to champion for all.

And not helping at all are journalists/reporters who produced fluffy response pieces to this yearly drama.

Hey journos, if you even dare, read below link, maybe this can help you to try to produce an article that can contribute more to make Malaysians more enlightened, ok?

The myth of Valentine’s Day exposed.

Really, the standard of analysis/journalism in newspapers and internet media is rolling down the hill *cue for Adele’s song Rolling In The Deep*.

Pity, our journos must have suffered so much from lowered public esteem that they are unable to see the way to produce international standards journalism/reporting.

I wonder what it will take to get National Union of Journalists (NUJ) to encourage its members, take this opportunity to write pieces to guide children or young adults to be better informed by triggering conversations like:

1) Where did these customs originate?

2) How did we inherit these customs?

3) Where do we find this practiced in our culture?

But, if the newspaper bosses think the current low standards of reporting is the best KPI for Malaysian readers, I rest my case.

For those interested to know more about Valentine Day’s industry (yes, this is a BIG money churner for entertainment/ F&B/ hotel, newspaper and media related businesses), go check out history books and encyclopedias at the library.

Incompetency of news outlets: Wikileaks

Sad isn’t it, when news outlets or media forgot its ‘duty’ as the fourth estate?

Here’s how to stop Wikileaks or its wannabes:

“I think its time for the general public to demand that our news outlets start giving us complete stories, with various points of view.”
Thank you, b0ll0cks for your post!

Malaysia Netroots and Citizen Bloggers

Ever wonder if our savvy politicians are even aware of the changing pattern of communication of our loyal party grassroot voters?

Let’s do a checklist:

Got blog? – check

Got Facebook and Twitter? – check

Got interactive conversation to walk with and connect with commentators’ fears and tears? – “Itu software belum lagi di pasaran, boss…,” explained the hapless political aide. “Pergi tanya dekat bloggers,” exclaimed the half awake politician.

Suddenly a vision pops in my head – she, the internet evangelist grandma in a TV advertisement going, “Jom Streamyx !!”

Share with you below highlights from a related article:
…

Rise of the Netroots: How citizen army of bloggers is changing Malaysian politics

Malaysian politicians need to rise up with the digital reality and collaborate with social-political new media practitioners to extend constituencies beyond their silver haired circle of loyalist voters. Never before has the need to connect with today’s digital-savvy consumers been so crucial to winning campaigns for a high income economy aspirant nation state.

Thanks to information technology, the possible spectrum for ideological debate in Malaysia has been widen a little especially since the advent of emails, blogs, sms, Youtube, Facebook and Twitter dented the traditionally unidirectional political messaging and campaigning that voters have been subjected to.

So instead of issuing numbing political slogans or lamentations of political parties attributing their troubles to the machinations of their adversaries rather than to their own failures or sheer misfortune, why don’t they just get to work with the netroots as an outreach connector to reach constituents beyond their traditional voters neatly segmented by race, association or party membership?

Click here to read the article in full.

2010: Sapere aude!

*

May Malaysians be blessed with love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline.

May Malaysian bloggers, the scions of the fourth estate help shape the media into a respectable community, rooted on the basis of reason and consent.

If it may be possible at all, may more Malaysian political parties and their politicians emerge enlightened from their self-imposed immaturity.

Happy 2010 to all!

~BC

*

And, here are those useful links to all of the above funny ideas:

1. http://www.philosophynow.org/issue49/49steinbauer.htm
2. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/philosophy
3. http://www.campwood.com/FourthEstate.htm
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_is_Enlightenment%3F

The news, a tragedy and a higher love

Just look and listen at how the TV presenter (the lady at -04:10, 1:50 and at the close) expressed her empathy to the victims of the family of a tragic family dinner shootout.

This is how media people should strive to be, so that the media is human again.

Which brings me to Malaysia tv, radio, newspaper and online media. I hope they will learn the power of empathy to connect with the masses.  The current unpolished treatment by the media and also the uncivil comments left in the internet… it is not too late we learn how to better treat another human being with aspiration of a higher love. Soon. A tall order for Malaysia’s 13th General Election.

P/S: My greatest sympathies to Patrick Knight on his dear loss. May he and family be strong.

Chua Soi Lek the naughty boy (Part II)

.

Our naughty boy is in big news again, providing some distraction from the seriousness of A(H1N1)…

—

“Chua told reporters at a press conference at a hotel in Petaling Jaya last night that while he had supported Ong in making a police report and in taking legal action, he had objected to the party itself getting involved. (Banana: See below response I got from an MCA insider)

“I expressed support to sue Tiong but I do not believe the party should be involved in it. It is a personal problem. Only the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission know the truth,” he said before chairing a meeting with other Barisan Nasional component parties. “I support the president in seeking legal redress but not dragging the party into it.” (Banana: Again, see below MCA insider’s response)

Chua also expressed his doubts about Ong’s “conspiracy theory” about a RM100 million campaign to destroy MCA. (There’s no smoke without a fire, Mr Chua?)

The Chinese media had reported that Ong told division leaders that there was a concerted effort to amass RM100 million to move a vote of no-confidence against him at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) and that should the effort fail, there will be an attempt to form a new Chinese-based political party to replace MCA.

“The conspiracy theory has no basis,” Chua scoffed. “If you say there is a RM100 million campaign to topple him, the message is that MCA members only look for money — no money no talk. At the end of the day, people support politicians based on their performance.” (Banana: Please, Mr Chua, you are not being truthful here. Money makes frogs jump. Remember Ms Hee Yit Foong? Don’t tell me all politicians are good performers. Please ask Uncle Lim Kit Siang and Anwar Ibrahim for their opinion)

He also said that he thinks the party is at its lowest point in its history and if the “internal conflicts” continue, the party may not survive past the next general election. (Banana: What are you going to do to contribute to harmonious relationship in your party, Mr Chua?)

“The voters will replace MCA because we are not performing and involved with internal conflicts. We are elected to serve the people and not politics,” he said. (Banana: errr, Mr Chua, you were not elected at 308, remember? Tainted candidate is not acceptable according to Pakatan Rakyat?)

He also cited a case to reporters of “a senior MCA leader” who was arrested in Singapore, charged and jailed, likely referring to former MCA president Tan Koon Swan who was found guilty of criminal breach of trust. “We should let the law take its course,” he said. (Banana: Yes, totally agree with you, Mr Chua. Let law take its course. Btw, the law of the land still says fornification is illegal. Even though I pity you for being caught, the law is still the law.)

News source from The Malaysian Insider.

—

Unsatisfied, Banana did some snooping and got something from an MCA insider:

“On the issue of Ong Tee Keat:

1.  PKFZ issue is handled by OTK in capacity of minister. Minister Ong acted representing government to resolve the problem.

2.  Tiong King Sing allegations vs OTK is a case involving OTK in capacity as an individual. Note the legal demands issued in personal capacity on both sides.

3.  OTK holding position of MCA President has been accused by Tiong of taking money from Tiong purportly for MCA activities. Under societies Act, the President of a society is answerable to its members, hence, OTK in capacity of MCA President explained to members of MCA his side of the story. Last Sunday, the explanation to divisional leaders was held and accepted by the delegates.

So, you see, as different entities are involved in above cases, require different treatment even though it involved OTK the same man.”

—

Banana has a question for MCA.

With reference to item 3 above:

Session was closed door for invited members. How come a reporter who is not a delegate can publish the proceedings to public? Who gave permission to Malaysiakini reporter to sabo MCA internal meeting?

2009… another sexy year with ADUN Bukit Lanjan’s Elizabeth Wong?

Malaysians are again entertained with sexy exposures with political figures…

Ain’t most of us glad for nice sexy diversion from the heavy Perak political crisis.

Brought to you for your viewing pleasure courtesy of Elizabeth Wong‘s former boyfriend who has done either following:

1. Used the handphone to take photo of former girlfriend sleeping

or

2. Downloaded it to PC

or

3. Forgot about the photo in PC or Handphone and send it for repair or sold the hardwares without erasing them photos.

…

Wait a minute… I’m getting a dejavu feeling here… Ah… it’s like Edison Chen‘s sexual adventure replay Malaysian version 2009 la.

or

Maybe it’s like Chua Soi Lek sex story replay Malaysian version 2009?

hmmm……

For now real politics can be forgotten briefly. Now the politicians can get busy going all moral and talk pulpit sermons. Summon the fire and brimstones on the morally loose…!!!

Even Elizabeth Wong’s friends in PKR are questioning her morality here:

“Kini timbul desakan agar beliau meletak jawatan kerana moralnya dipertikaikan.

Sementara itu, Naib Presiden PKR Azmin Ali berkata pihaknya tidak akan berkompromi dalam isu gambar bogel Elizabeth Wong. Katanya, PKR akan mendapatkan keterangan Exco itu serta laporan polis sebelum memutuskan tindakan lanjut. Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim pula berkata isu itu akan dibincang dalam mesyuarat Exco Negeri, Rabu ini.” (Agenda Daily)

I wonder if the women rights groups will come out to defend one of their sister whose rights have been sullied. Eeerrr… rights and privacy, anyone?

Media having a field day today.

Read more about it in Malaysiakini here

and The Star here

No, you cannot! Err… Yes, you can, my begging journalists…

According to Malaysiakini today:

More than 100 journalists are staging a boycott after the Parliament administration cut media access to the building’s lobby and barricaded the area.

Journalists from all print, online and electronic media decided to only cover the proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat and boycott all the press conferences or events held outside of the chamber.

The journalists were outraged and stunned by the latest ruling which has resulted in the entire lobby being cordoned off, apparently on security grounds.

This move has restricted the journalists from moving around freely in the lobby or approaching MPs directly.

Apparently, this is the first time Parliament enforced such ruling. Nazri Aziz said 5 of you journalists from each news agency are enough. If you come in a battalion, you are not efficient workers!!!

Proof of what he has blurted out to antagonise the bestest friends of any politicians is here.
Woookay….

And then at 2:15pm, a hero emerges from the depths of BN’s Backbencher’s Club, to gallantly remove the offending barricades to allow the begging media access to the Parliament lobby. And yes, according to loudmouth Bung Mokhtar, “It’s business as usual.”

Yup. A flip-flopping trend is now viral at Parliament.

Just like me virally infected noooooooose…