Monday, April 18, 2011

Play up racial issues and pay the price, media warned


The print media should not play up racial sentiments for profits and at the expense of the nation’s interest, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.

He cited a Malay proverb about people who gloated about their “successes” while their homes were sacrificed.

“When the country is in chaos, there would be no value if Sin Chew, Nanyang or Utusan could sell even a single copy of their newspaper,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby yesterday.

He said news, particularly in the Chinese newspapers, was being monitored closely.



Asked about a report in Utusan Malaysia that suggested that Barisan Nasional need not take care of the Chinese following the outcome of the just concluded Sarawak polls, he said: “Besides Utusan, other editions speak that way, too.

“It is the same with The Star as they talk about the same sentiments.

“If you talk to the Chinese newspapers, it is even worse and I have been monitoring the Chinese pa-pers,” he added.

However, Hishammuddin noted that Chinese newspapers needed time to adapt to the current political changes.

“Give them space and they will know the landscape sooner or later,” he said.

Hishammuddin, who is also Umno vice-president, viewed Barisan’s loss in the predominantly-Chinese seats in Sarawak as a testing time for the coalition in facing racial and religious issues.

“We must not allow such issues to rear their head,” he said.

He also said it was time for the Barisan component parties to help their weaker partners.

“Even Umno had to look to the Chinese for their support when the party was in crisis.

“That is the difference between the Opposition and Barisan – we have friends in the coalition and we face things together.

“When Umno was divided, those that helped us were the component parties like the MCA,” he added.

SUPP was crushed by DAP in the Sarawak election.

SUPP contested in 19 seats and lost 13 with its president Tan Sri Dr George Chan being the biggest casualty.


Photobucket
Related Posts with Thumbnails

Latest Malaysia News