TUESDAY PICK - 08

Throughout the 35 years in the newspaper industry, I have worked with all sorts of editors and journalists, and have identified five types of journalists in the media community.

First, there are the EEs -- Editorial Eunuchs, who take orders from their political emperors and write and spin stories to promote the emperor's cause. These political appointees are usually in top and senior positions, not because they are good journalists or great writers, but because of their connection to powerful political godfathers. They are first class cronies. Many are ghost writers for their political masters. Some are made Datuks or given various civil awards. Several have become millionaires.

I thank God that, except for one or two cases, the editors I had worked with are not such people. I can vouch that people like P.C. Liew, Ng Poh Tip, Michael Aeria, Wong Sulong and Wong Chun Wai are good people of principle and top class journalists, not EEs. My good friend Chong Cheng Hai, the managing editor of The Sun, is another person of integrity.

Syabas, Hatta, for standing up for press freedom

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For racial disputes, there is already an arbiter. And that, plain and simple, is the constitution. So how we solve or manage - whichever word you want to use - racial disputes should be guided by that arbiter.

Article 153 of the constitution is the bone of contention. But as lawyer Azzat Kamaluddin, who also spoke at the “We Are Malaysia” event, astutely pointed out, there is no mention in that article of special rights for the Malays.

Clause 1 of Article 153 states: “It shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the states of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article.”

If it's a problem, don't recognise it

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Virgin Group founder Richard Branson said today that the ongoing sodomy trial of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is damaging the country's reputation and putting off potential investors.

The British tycoon said at an investment conference in Kuala Lumpur that the trial would not impact investment “in a major way”.

“It will be better if Malaysia can be more liberal and open,” Branson (right) argued. “It will attract people to invest.

“This has gone on for a long, long time. It looks bad overseas. If you are a bold leader, you should get rid of things like that which damage your reputation.”

Branson warns Malaysia over Sodomy II