A news organisation

By Shamala Suresh Kee

“A news organisation should be free to espouse any cause it wishes on the basis of that most fundamental of liberties, namely freedom of expression…..So, if a newspaper wishes to endorse one party, ideology or political alliance over another, that is its unquestionable right. On the readers’ part, they are free to accept or reject the newspaper’s position by choosing either to read its messages or not. This is simple enough a matter in a society that lives by time-tested democratic ideals.”

These are the exact words from the Sun’s editorial March 4 2008, written by the newly appointed editor, Chong Cheng Hai. One would expect a newly appointed editor to reach out to his audience and increase the readership of the publication as a response to the challenge posed by his chair. But, from what I read, the editor is rather unscrupulous over readership, according to him; readers can choose to read or not to read. Maybe it is because the Sun comes free, and people like me don’t have to fork out money for news, we are beyond consideration. I assume this came as a response towards the hammering received by the mainstream media over its slanted, one sided coverage of the election, that the The Sun claims that newspaper publication has the right to endorse one party, ideology or political alliance over another. That is its unquestionable right. As defiant as it sounds, it also sounds childish, and like a stubborn kid saying that it would have want it wants, and no one can say anything about it.

A beautiful election campaign

By Shamala Suresh Kee

“Malaysian Newspaper Forced to Shut Up” (by Jed Yoong, Asia Sentinal, 22 February 2008) truly made me feel appalled at the recent state of Malaysian press. Cited as an endangered species by Jed, independent newspapers are now extinct with the purchase of The Sun daily by business tycoon, Vincent Tan, whom currently is involved in V.K Lingam trial, a trial that pertains to justice brokerage by the senior lawyer. According to the report, an extensive change in the main line-up of The Sun was made, soon after the purchase. Ho Kay Tat is now being replaced by a new editor-in-chief Chong Cheng Hei and Zainon Ahmad is now the ‘consultant editor’.

I must say, The Sun is a staple read for me and most readers who want vivid and explicit reports especially on recent controversial cases and I am doubtful that we would not be denied that with the shift of ownership. Attempts again attempts are made to control and restrict Malaysian media under the flagship of national and public safety, especially post 13 May 1969 and later during the ‘reign’ of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad starting from 1981. The implementation of the Printing Ordinance in 1948 to curb communist activities posed as the stepping stone towards the control of print media content ‘for national and public safety also to handle sensitive issues regarding race and religion’, as chanted till today by the authorities even after the amendment of the Printing Ordinance to the draconian Printing Press and Publication Act, that does more than regulation of content but also, the ownership of the media.

Valentine’s is in the air

By Shamala Suresh Kee

Sweet roses, now you would cost more, chocolates so would you. How far some would go to declare their love to their amour? Make girls dream for their knights in shining armor, to come and swoop them up on their horses (a kancil would be sufficient, though) and ride (or drive) away to sunset. That’s a cliché already, but then I wouldn’t mind being pampered that way on my Valentine. ‘Make me smile and laugh, encompass me with romance and love’. However, celebrating Valentine’s would be the very last thing on some people’s mind. Homeless people, beggars on the street, famish and poverty hanging over their heads, not unlike rain clouds.

I wish I could fly

By Shamala Suresh Kee

I wish I could fly. I would, then, spend my time flying rather than walking all around campus. But, then it will be still strenuous, for my muscle would still ache and my mind would be spinning having to rush from one end to the other, hoping to be in time for class. Hey, talking about rushing about, Thaipusam had been a rushed celebration, for me at least! Joining the mass celebration last Wednesday back at Kg.Kepayang, Gopeng (it is in Perak, for those who has no inkling on where Gopeng is) and make a hasty comeback to USM. Even my sisters came down for a family gathering since federal states were declared to holiday, too (why all of a sudden, I wonder). But, those days, when my mother was alive, we would go to Tapah at Thaipusam mornings and then Kg. Kepayang in the afternoon before wrapping it up at Ipoh, following the procession of chariot with Lord Muruga at its threshold.

Justice in Malaysia

By Shamala Suresh Kee

The VK Lingam Tape revealed the ugly side of our judiciary system in our nation. The revelation did not only astound V.K Lingam and then Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal and former Chief Justice, Ahmad Fairuz Sheik Abdul Halim, but, the public were left in doubt, questioning the credibility and the integrity of our judicial domain’s honorable members and the judiciary practice in our country. Now, you don’t only need cables to land with a temporary teaching post, but you can get to be the Chief Justice of Malaysia if you pull the right strings.

Campus elections

By Shamala Suresh Kee 

The heat of campus elections is on.  Hundreds of people are propagating in behalf of their chosen candidates. Words of mouth are passed around to ensure certain favorites are chosen in the election. The date to cast the votes happens to be today, the 2nd of October 2007. This is why the lecturers are lectures and tutorials requested to exempt the students from their lectures and tutorials from 8 am to 11 am. To fulfill their obligations as Campus Citizens and cast their ballots.

Centralising corruption

By Shamala Suresh Kee

This week, I’m tempted to touch on an issue that bugs me at all times.

The E-Kesihatan program highlighted by the Sun recently caught my attention and in my opinion it is right for all the doctors and medicine practitioners to stand up and speak out their frustration on another scheme brought by our government to centralise a service that would bring more good than harm, to put it gently. What bewilders me is why all the service and programme should be centralised into a certain organisation or commission which in turn provides opportunities for corruption and white collar crimes to infest and wreck the nation?

The struggle to make myself count

By Shamala Suresh Kee

I couldn’t agree more with Syarifah on the identity thing. Only, she was in the opposite spectrum if compared to my case.

I myself had faced that sh*t. To be totally honest, I am a truly-yours science stream student. Up till Form Six that is. I even accepted an offer to do Applied Biology at our beloved Universiti Sains Malaysia. Now, what made me end up here in Communication, you might ask? Don’t worry, you are not the only human being haunted by that question. *Expletive*. The whole campus wants to know about it. And, didn’t I had a wholy pleasant affair of explaining away the reason in my second year? Probing questions on my decision come uninvited. People tend to size us up by taking our education and wealth generating potential into consideration. The only flaw is this, they do that with prejudice. And very unforgivingly. It seemed to them that I had done a great sin for opting to something other than the Great Science. Alas, I’m settling into my niche. I love Mass Comn.