There is something we all know but some dumbo's do not want to admit. You just can't stop the flow of information anymore. Yes Marina's weekly column was taken off because of its "explosive" contents. She explains:
The Column That Wasn't
Folks, I'm posting here what should have been my Musings column tomorrow. The Star has refused to publish it because, after what happened to P. Gunasegaram's article which was pulled out after the Home Ministry gave them a show-cause letter, they don't want any 'sensitive' articles that may jeopardise their KDN permit.
Now I've been writing for the Star for about 20 years now, believe it or not, and although it would be much easier and freer to just blog, I maintain my column because of the discipline and because of my many loyal readers who don't necessarily read anything online. There have been other times when my column has been in danger of being censored (and very occasionally edited to sound gentler and nicer..) but still they came out when they were supposed to.
But this time they were adamant. As it happened, this evening I attended a dinner held by the MCA for NGOs. The MCA, as you may know, owns The Star. It was high irony for me to have so many people, including top MCA officials, tell me that they faithfully read my column when their own paper won't publish it tomorrow. I was seated next to Dato Sri Ong Tee Keat himself and complained about it but he wasn't keen to rock the boat, even though every time someone like me is censored, it's one point gained by the conservatives who, rather than argue things out with proper facts, would simply prefer to shut everyone up.
Of course the problem is the Publishing and Printing Presses Act itself which requires every single publication to apply for a permit every year. And no media which wants to survive can afford to get shut down.
But still there is room for courage, to stand up for freedom of speech. If we capitulate every time, then why bother publishing at all?
Indeed the space for any form of public discussion is narrowing every day, with not only the PPA being used but also police reports against anyone who puts forward the slightest alternative or opposing view. This is what keeps the cops busy these days, instead of catching snatch thieves, robbers, rapists and other real social ills.
Yet online there is room for all points of view and is it really so bad? In this blog, I allow all points of view and what I've found is that when you allow it, apart from a few stubborn ones, eventually the humanity of everybody comes through. There is a yearning to understand one another but that can't be done if there is no space for learning. Nor would you gain that insight into people if you didn't allow everyone to express themselves.
And as many have pointed out, what is the point of censoring the mainstream media when there is the freewheeling internet? The other point we should make to people like The Star is, what is the point of constantly sucking up to the Government when they can still turn around and bite you? Not everyone has to be Utusan. Self-respect is important too, no?
So anyway, here's the Column That Wasn't:
Now I've been writing for the Star for about 20 years now, believe it or not, and although it would be much easier and freer to just blog, I maintain my column because of the discipline and because of my many loyal readers who don't necessarily read anything online. There have been other times when my column has been in danger of being censored (and very occasionally edited to sound gentler and nicer..) but still they came out when they were supposed to.
But this time they were adamant. As it happened, this evening I attended a dinner held by the MCA for NGOs. The MCA, as you may know, owns The Star. It was high irony for me to have so many people, including top MCA officials, tell me that they faithfully read my column when their own paper won't publish it tomorrow. I was seated next to Dato Sri Ong Tee Keat himself and complained about it but he wasn't keen to rock the boat, even though every time someone like me is censored, it's one point gained by the conservatives who, rather than argue things out with proper facts, would simply prefer to shut everyone up.
Of course the problem is the Publishing and Printing Presses Act itself which requires every single publication to apply for a permit every year. And no media which wants to survive can afford to get shut down.
But still there is room for courage, to stand up for freedom of speech. If we capitulate every time, then why bother publishing at all?
Indeed the space for any form of public discussion is narrowing every day, with not only the PPA being used but also police reports against anyone who puts forward the slightest alternative or opposing view. This is what keeps the cops busy these days, instead of catching snatch thieves, robbers, rapists and other real social ills.
Yet online there is room for all points of view and is it really so bad? In this blog, I allow all points of view and what I've found is that when you allow it, apart from a few stubborn ones, eventually the humanity of everybody comes through. There is a yearning to understand one another but that can't be done if there is no space for learning. Nor would you gain that insight into people if you didn't allow everyone to express themselves.
And as many have pointed out, what is the point of censoring the mainstream media when there is the freewheeling internet? The other point we should make to people like The Star is, what is the point of constantly sucking up to the Government when they can still turn around and bite you? Not everyone has to be Utusan. Self-respect is important too, no?
So anyway, here's the Column That Wasn't:
Malaysia democracy what.....every 5 year we got erection.
ReplyDeleteI don't respect The Star nor do I depend on it for news. The internet is a fantastic substitute to our local news agencies.
ReplyDeleteBetter to read blogs than the local papers. Full of rubbish and politics.
ReplyDeleteHow long and how much can WCW compromise his morals and integrity by continuing to work for the Star? That's the real question.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Marina, Guna and Shahrom don't need the STAR; but the Star sure does need them and soon we will see it go off the radar screen like Utusan. NST and other MSM which take the PEOPLE for fools.
dpp
We are all of 1 race, the Human Race
I once ask someone why she still buys the Star when it is full of shitty one-sided political news.
ReplyDeleteShe replied: To read the advertisements, what else!
The true bottom line - Are we not talking about MALAYsia? Anything goes. Only in this country.
ReplyDeletemalsia1206
Religious matters are best left to the religious people, such as PAS and their over dressed followers.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, wonder what TDM has to say over this.
A GOOD MAN DOES NOTHING.
This the age of the internet. This is the age of a borderless world. But sadly for Umno arse-holes, it is still the age of the dinosaur. That's why Umno still unleashes the forces of hell on the people. But Umno fails to realise the age of the internet has renderered lies and shameless propaganda irrelevent. Long live Anwar, long live the people of Malaysia. Long live Zorro, long live Harris.
ReplyDeleteA Star reader for many years, I'm , at last, getting fed up with it. Cannot understand why WCW has to continue to suck up to "them".Gunasegaran, Marina and Shahrom are good and credible writers/commentators.They shouldn't
ReplyDeletebe muzzled!I'm seriously thinking of doing away with reading the main stream media.I have not read the New Straight Times since 1998.I believe I can also boycott
the Star!I'm slowly but surely turning to the alternative media..
available via the internet!
Oh what a pity what the old man did is hitting back at his daughter. The old man should apply pressure to undo his deeds through his blogs.....apa nama det whatever.
ReplyDeleteDon't bullshit all you hypocrites who says that they don't buy The Star anymore. From my observation, the paper sells like hot "goreng pisang" every morning. It's gone in minutes after being displayed. And you know who bought them?... yes mostly Chinese... yuppies and oldies, Amoi and Nyonya. You know you can't live without the popular tabloid. Everyday you wanted to goggle the advertisement for the best bargain in Giant, Tesco, Carrefour etc. Come on, you all know that there's someone in your home that cannot live without The Star.
ReplyDeleteSenor, I read all the MSM for free.
Screw The Star
ReplyDeleteYou are rigt.
I buy to check on ads specially warehouse sales.
Then I buy Sunday Star to enter contest and get the book discount vouchers.
Also am a former employee. Still love my ex. Good pay what.
Hei!! this is definite a good sign cos more and more ppl would be reading online. Let the Star die its slow death..swakakaka
ReplyDeleteThe days when Star was a top notch investigative newspaper is long gone. I am sure most of you have heard of the joke then: Owned by MCA, Run by MIC and Printed for DAP supporters. Those were the days.
ReplyDeleteToday, Star is just an ordinary subsidiary of the Money-Collecting-Agency. It's all about boosting its ad revenue and raking in the ringgit. Who cares if the stories are all shit, money is more important than good quality journalism.
The Evil BN/Umno regime which MCA is a part of continues to persecute Christians in Malaysia with its racist and bigoted agenda. Any right thinking Christian would feel hypocritical to attend a function organized by a BN component party when issues like the desecration of the Host by the Al Islam journalist has been swept under the carpet by the Umno compliant AG. What about the banning of the use of 'Allah' by Christians and the confiscation of the Malay Bible and Christian literature, the forced conversion of Christian children to Islam, body snatching cases, the Lina Joy case and the difficulty to obtain permits to build Churches. Why would Christians attend a function organized by a political party that accepts and supports a leader (VP Chua Soi Lek) who is an adulterer. These so-called 'Christians' from the Full Gospel Business Men Fellowship have to worship on Sundays in Hotels and shopping complexes as they can't obtain permits to build churches. Read more here http://margeemar.blogspot.com/2010/03/are-christians-really-behind-mca-and.html#links
ReplyDeleteThe Star is going along the DUMNO into dustbins. havent been buying The Star for donkey years, access only thru www.thestar.com.my same goes to other MSM.
ReplyDeleteThose in denial mode will never escape death, and Good Luck! DUMNO & The Gang.
Surprisingly, just because 1 or 2 articles were being rejected, and all hell breaks loose..
ReplyDeleteCome on people, you can do better than this. I bet, there will be more mainstream papers to be targeted after this, and it will not be so much because of its so called ‘govt control’ but more likely because u just want to vent ur anger at anything or anyone who prevent your causes.
Still the paper does provide insights to its readers regardless of who owns it.
The star is no longer a "living star" it is a dead star. Soon it will be a black hole.
ReplyDeleteThe people there have been emasculated by the crooked knife.
May allah have mercy on those wielding the crooked knife.
Majulah bolehland
The STAR stands for Suara Tengku Abdul Rahman. But the Tengku has left the building.
ReplyDeleteA GOOD MAN DOES NOTHING.
Fuck the Star and the BASTARD Wong C W son of a bitch. He is nothing BUT a BN/MCA balls-licker.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbour is an old-aged retiree and he buys the STAR occasionally. He told me that is is purely for its advertisement. He use to sent over his old copies to every now and then as I had asked for it. I wanted it NOT for reading or up-dating myself. IT IS ACTUALLY USED FOR WRAPPING MY DOGS'SHIT and throwing it away. That is what the STAR paper should be used and fit for that purpose ONLY. With shit Editors like the pariah WCW what impartial news can you expect to read?
ReplyDeleteHeck!! How can they call the The STAR "the peoples paper". Very misleading indeed.The STAR thinks all the people are fools or dummy by churning out half-past-six 'one-sided' BN propaganda and they call it 'news'- my foot! The fucker WCW is more interested in self-preservation and fear of the UMNO/BN Govt not renewing its license. He is more interested in maintaining his C & U Gun License under the Principal Holder of STAR Company. He goes around seeing shadows and fearing for his well-being. Who the fuck wants to touch him? He smells like rotting raffiasia plant and can smell it from a far distance in deep jungle. That is what WCH is !!!
ReplyDelete