Bloggers like reporters or editors in print and electronic media are governed by code of ethics, professionalism and decorum in doing their works; they are not above the law. Only Last Wednesday, MALAYSIAKINI, a leading online news portal made an unqualified apology IN OPEN COURT TO CHIEF MINISTER, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud for libelous words it had published in series of 12 articles from April 6 to May 3, 2007 against him.
Malaysiakini, in a statement of apology read in an open court, acknowledged that their articles were published based solely on news reports in Japanese media and they did not verify the truth of what was published in Japan with any authorities or with the Chief Minister.
Malaysiakini admitted that Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau had since reversed its decision on the issue of the payments legitimately made by the Japanese firms to Hong Kong company. This reversal of the earlier decision “renders the imputation of kickbacks to be wholly unfounded and so without basis.”
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"MKini admits error, says sorry to Taib,"Lazar speaks to reporters outside the High Court in Kuala Lumpur. |
Accordingly, Malaysiakini lawyer, Encik Fahri Izzat told the Court that, the articles were erroneously published. No such imputation was purposely intended. The statement states: “we regret such unintended insinuations and undertake to refrain from publishing any further news reports or statements about the plaintiff in relation to the issue of kickbacks involving the Japanese shipping companies paid to an off-shore Hong Kong company known as Regent Star. We acknowledge that the articles caused the embarrassment, distress and injury to the Plaintiff’s reputation and apologise for any inconvenience caused to him as a result. In keeping with our apology, we shall publish that the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau had subsequently ruled that the sums paid by the Japanese shipping companies were legitimate payments.”
The public apology by Malaysiakini must be examined in the proper prospective. Its editor in chief ought to be submitted to critical public scrutiny and assessment as to whether they meet the ethical standards of responsible journalism in the dissemination of accurate news and for fair, balanced and objective reporting of news and comments.
Obviously, Bloggers like other media practitioners owe the public correct and up to date information. Hence, they must be guided by the cardinal principle of their profession of being fair and just in their reporting. Their access to the cyber space is not a license to malign anybody whether they are in the higher up or in whatever positions.
Regrettably, most websites or blogs in Sarawak in particular do just that. They are running the websites or blogs merely to run a hate campaign against a certain individual to such an extent of spreading lies and falsehood against him. For example, a blog recently went at some length to allege that the Chief Minister is running away from reporters to such an extent that he has even called off the traditional press conference after a cabinet meeting. It is sure sign that the bloggers were either ignorant or very shallow in their works to disseminate information to the people.
Firstly they do not understand Pehin Sri Abdul Taib as a person. He does not run away from problems that deserve his attentions. Secondly, is there such thing as traditional press conference after a cabinet meeting? The answer is empathetically No. Some ministers talk to reporters on matters pertaining to their portfolios. They respond to questions being fielded by reporters, who have been waiting for them at the lobby of the Secretariat or Wisma Bapa Malaysia.
The public must know that Wisma Bapa Malaysia, like any Secretariat buildings throughout the country is a security area. People, entering the building including members of the staff of various Ministries and departments are being screened before entering it. Those found without security passes are simply being turned away. The security checks are being carried out sporadically by security personnel.
Regrettably, some reporters or photographers believe that they can enter without the accreditations cards issued by Information department. They tend to enter using the identification cards issued by their respective organizations. If they are accredited journalists they must be endorsed by Information department.
The hate campaign or the one- line or shallow campaigns being run by local blogs is not only unethical, journalistic wise, but also very unhealthy in the overall efforts to uphold the traditional spirit of respect, friendship and goodwill among the people comprising of various ethnic and religious groups in the State and country. They promote hatred among the people, young people in particular and the misconception that they can get away by spreading lies and falsehood to malign one’s enemy.
As Internet is still quite new and those behind the blogs or websites are people of known characters, some write just to get a certain income in a month, the aggrieved parties may leave them to their games for a while. But like anything else, time may run out for them. The voice of wisdom must prevail not to push somebody’s patience too far.
benuasains is obliged to publish an analysis by senior legal practitioner on Malaysiakini’s open apology to Sarawak’s Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud.
MALAYSIAKINI APOLOGY: an analysis by senior Legal Practitioner
Malaysiakini’s unqualified apology to the Chief Minister of Sarawak to secure a withdrawal of the defamation suit filed by Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud against the online news portal is significant not just because it is very rare that Malaysiakini admits any mistake on its part. Indeed, there is no precedence of Malaysiakini giving anyone a public apology read by its Counsel in open Court.
The apology must have severely dented Malaysiakini’s pride and creditability much more than its editor in chief cares to admit even after the unequivocal admission made in Court that what Malaysiakini has published, in twelve articles over a one month time frame, was “erroneous”. Which responsible news publisher has ever published erroneous news for almost one month that was, from 06.04.2007 to 03.05.2007?
Therefore, the public apology by Malaysiakini must be examined in the proper prospective. Its editor in chief as well as Malaysiakini itself ought to be submitted to critical public scrutiny and assessment as to whether they meet the ethical standards of responsible journalism in the dissemination of accurate news, and for fair, balanced and objective reporting of news and comments.
What did Malaysiakini unashamedly admit in the Statement read in Court on January 4? That Malaysiakini did not veriy the allegations of “kickbacks” by Japanese shipping firms which it published persistently and repeatedly for nearly one month! Malaysiakini’s lawyer told the Court (quote): “We did not verify the truth of the news reports by the Japanese media with any authorities or the Plaintiff.” This is astonishing for an editor like Steven Gan who proclaimed that he will publish news “without fear or favour”.
Does he mean that he has an absolute licence to publish fearlessly unverified news, in this case, erroneous news, against someone whom he personally does not favour? No reason whatsoever was given why he deliberately chose not to verify the “news”. Perhaps, the public can now judge or assess the creditability of Steven Gan and Malaysiakini and reliability of whatever news that they publish especially on those whom they do not favour.
Next, Malaysiakini has openly admitted that the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau had reversed its decision on the payments made by the Japanese Shipping firms and determined that the sums paid by them were “legitimate payments”. If Steven Gan and Malaysiakini had adhered to ethical standards of journalism, it is only reasonable for them to publish the decision of the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau on the legitimacy of those payments before they were compelled to do so as a result of having to tender that unprecedented apology in Court to the Chief Minister.Why did they not report earlier the corrected decision of the Bureau is, perhaps,not difficult to fathom or guess. Without fear, shut out any news which favour those whom Malaysiakini does not favour. That seems to be, on the basis of what has already transpired in this case, what Steven Gan meant to be publishing news “without fear or favour”.
Further, Malaysiakini must be aware that Utusan Malaysia which published similar allegations concerning payments by the Japanese Shipping companies, published a clarification , withdrawal and expression of regret to the Chief Minister in 2007 after the Chief Minister commenced libel action against that Newspaper. That public retraction of the allegations by Utusan Malaysia ought, at least, to have put Malaysiakini on notice that the so-called news of “kick- backs”in the Japanese media needed to be properly verified. Instead, Malaysiakini continued thereafter to repeat the same unverified allegations with much malice. That could hardly be the typical conduct or example of fair, responsible or creditable journalism.
This episode gives Malaysians an opportunity to evaluate the practices of Malaysiakini and its editor. How much faith we can still place on them to present us news or comments objectively and do they still qualify to be regarded as authority for reliable news? Malaysiakini has now much to do to redeem its shattered reputation if wants to discard its newly acquired image of a malicious purveyor of sensational, unverified allegations.
benuasains
*Photos Source:
google.com
http://sarawakmonitor.blogspot.com/2012/01/malaysiakini-makes-unqualified-apology.html
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