Thursday, January 19, 2006

Who made the decision on China Press ?

The China Press incident continues to be a hot topic quietly talked about by many people, including young journalists in their 20s. Everyone I have met or talked to strongly opines that the selective punishment meted out against the China Press by the Internal Security Ministry is absolutely wrong and unfair.

But why did the Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi do it? Has he not been talking about 'justice', 'fairness' and things like that under 'Islam Hadhari'?

What didn't Gerakan's Deputy Minister Chia Kwang Chye advice Abdullah not to take such a wrong and unfair action? Has Gerakan not been priding itself to be the ' democratic conscience' in the National Front government? Chia Kwang Chye is the only ministerial trio who knows Chinese.

Is there, or is there not, a dimension of MCA-Gerakan petty rivalry or Umno-MCA power struggle in the decision-making process? If there is, then why did MCA lost out on such a vital matter that affects its image? If MCA cannot protect its own property or managers of its property, then how can it be expected to protect the larger interest of the Chinese Malaysian community?

Or, is the Internal Security Ministry now in the total control of Noh Omar and his faceless junta leaving Abdullah and Chia as powerless puppets or mere covers who only sign letters of warning and notice of action to newspapers prepared by Noh Omar and his faceless junta?

My own view is that, whatever the internal politiking in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is Abdullah who is ultimately responsible because in a Parliamentary System, the buck stops at the Minister, especially on such an important decision that affects the image of the nation in the world as well as the credibility of the government and ruling coalition within the country.

To the ordinary people in the streets, the decision against China Press is a decision of the National Front whose symbol is a white scale against a deep blue backdrop.

Teresa Kok: Mistake not confined to China Press
http://teresakok.blogsome.com/category/media/

Oriental Daily warned
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/45893