It seems to me that for the past few weeks, the online news portal Free Malaysia Today are on a DAP-bashing spree. From the article on my supposed lust for fame and media coverage (‘YB Press’) – which was subsequently adequately rebutted – to articles out today on DAP’s apparent ‘arrogance’ in Sabah, it is apparent that FMT is out to target DAP alone as the party with the most short-comings among all the BN, Pakatan and Independent parties in the country.
During a time of BN’s scandals costing millions of public funds, the NFC debacle, to the failures of MIC as ‘a party for Indians’, it appears that only DAP issues get the limelight in this ‘neutral’ paper. Today (17 Feb 2012) alone there are 5 to 6 articles on DAP which are more negative than neutral (or not accurate and biased in my opinion).
Further, it seems to be a recent trend that articles on DAP ‘issues’ on FMT do not include the immediate response or quotes from the subject of the article. An example is the story on Feb 13 alleging a DAP municipal councillor of corruption – where the right to respond was only published on Feb 16.
The first of such example I noticed of course was the YB Press article on me where there was no attempt by the FMT journalist nor its editorial chiefs to get my immediate reaction or comments to the accusations before the article was printed. FMT failed in its very basic journalistic rule of getting both sides of the story before publishing a piece. And there is no excuse of me not being available as I am contactable by mobile, email account(s), my blog, facebook, twitter, office, assistants, (need i go on?).
Of course we had the opportunity to rebut – only after the ludicrous (but damaging) article was published.
It seems that in trying to compete with Malaysiakini (whom I still believe takes pains in ensuring a balance article is published), FMT has taken many ‘liberties’ in its reporting these days. I feel Malaysiakini is a news portal that at least makes an attempt at getting comments from both sides before publishing a piece , even if there are times one side chooses not to comment. Makes me wonder if there has been a change of guard in FMT recently which we don’t know of?
I am all for freedom of expression and for all parties or entities to be treated critically – but this has to be done fairly and factually, with an opportunity for all quarters to be given their say simultaneously.
Am I the only one who seems to be smelling something fishy in FMT? Let me know what you think.
Keep up the good work and do not worry of FMT or MT. Their credibility has gone downhill and carries little weight these days.
No you are not the only one who smells something fishy with fmt. They have an agenda and a lot of us is more aware of the story that they are spewing. The recent being Tan Kok Wai’s speech in Sabah. FMT is twisted his speech. I believe FMT has been gone ‘unneutralised’ but then don’t worry about them, we have other blogs to update us just write your piec and we will know how to decipher between lies and truths. Keep up the good work we are rooting for you.
no..no..you a not the only one,i have noticed it begining middle of December,before news broke out BN and Umno targeting DAP.May be the top people at FMT has change. We dont know.
FMT is bent on disgracing DAP as DAP has proven itself to be able to fill in the shortcomings of PKR. With DAP attracting prominent Malay leaders in recent times, the role of PKR will fade and end up irrelevant. Since PKR is unable to improve itself, it has to rely on FMT to disgrace the other Pakatan parties.
Anything wrong ?
FMT and RPK are on the same side. If RPK is against PR then the same with FMT.
RPK is only useful if he screw both side making the rakyat feel he’s neutral, If he’s pro UMNO, most people wouldn’t even read his Malaysia Today.
I have the feeling that the only party to garner more votes for the coming election is DAP. The only party that has shown integrity, transparency and accountability. But the obvious objective that the party has the people at heart. Sincere in change, eradicate Malaysia biggest enemy CORRUPTION. It is a culture here that politicians are involve or influence in commercial and technical decisions which is a conflict of interest. A political change is good for country and the rakyat.
When FMT slammed BN, you workshipped FMT. When FMT published stinging article about DAP, you bashed FMT. This same goes to RPK case. For PR supporter, PR administration are all good. BN are all bad. I am starting to lose faith in PR administration because PR is no better than BN. Between the two bloodsuckers, BN and PR, at this moment I think I would op for BN.
From the time comments were disabled for a revamp and when it reappeared, something has happened. There is a noticeable change in tone of the manner of reporting. I don’t what it is but there seems to be an agenda somewhere.
you are right YB. there may have been a secret buy out of FMT…i believe since the 2 prominent malay joined DAP, FMT has been publishing anti-DAP reports. so we should all start to boycott FMT!!!
Dear Yb I do not share your view. I find FMT articles in general quite balanced. I do agree however that they should have got your side of the story too before publishing. MK on the other hand has over the years seem to have become a DAP/PR propaganda news online . I do not follow it anymore. It is just my personal opinion. Anyway Yb Teresa keep up your good work.
Likewise lady, why are you targeting MIC in this article ? I have never met you before and have yet to meet you or Gobin Singh. And my family and friends voted for the two of you ! When do you think you will touch base with your constituents ? Include Gobind too !
I ‘sensed’ the biased views about a month ago. Fmt used to be my priotised site,no longer!
Dear Teresa,
I’ve been FMT follower for quite some time now… ever since the comments section was revamped(which is to date only accessible to FB subscribers), the article published on FMT was a bit more than ever. I can see initially the articles had sense of putting both in the lime, but i must agree to a point that now, it have de-railed a bit on bashing a side. I was even thinking that the editorial line might have brought in some pro-gov guys over to add their own remedy of spices. From what i have seen the number of people happy with the articles are on the rise, not to mention that it targets more towards DAP. Sad but it might be tru that FMT have finally came to share a stand with street vendors…sell all you can.
Teresa,you DAP people only want to post comments that you want to hear.After RPK went havoc,I did comment about RPK’s behaviour.Same as Hassan Ali.But when they were on your side,you guys conveniently forget to post comments critisising them(your people).Now you are complaining.You guys cannot have the best of both worlds.
p/s you wouldn’t dare post this comment.I would be surprised if you did.
Helen Ang’s recent opinion piece “Not two-party but two race political system”, which I read on FMT yesterday has caused me to question her seemingly non-neutral slant. This has come against the backdrop of the CSL-LGE debate topic on the same subject that was to come later.
Some very fundamental questions I have are these :
1. What is fundamentally wrong with a 2 party system?
2. Why is the MCA (and of course Helen Ang) playing up the issue to the extent that it appears that Pakatan Rakyat is only supported by the Chinese? Has PKR, which has more Malay than non-Malay members, suddenly vanished into thin air?
Is there something that I am missing here?
Teresa, you sounded worried.
Even agitated?
I have read FMT today and the articles are okay!
However, it’s not surprising to find persons or even entities being “turned”.
It’s just possible.
Just look at some of our famous bloggers!
But be assured that your loyalists will be there to ensure that truth will prevail.
Regards,
Hi Teresa,
Don’t be so crestfallen!
You should see how some of the other blogs are roasting the BN, especially UMNO & MCA!!
They are:
Malaysian Chronicle
Malaysian Insider
Malaysian Mirror
Sarawak Report
amongst others!
You wouldn’t want to be in their shoes!!!
So, chin up & onward to Putrajaya!!
YB Theresa Kok, I agree with you & I took it upon myself to rebut some of the articles & there are no response from Free Malaysia or the writer. I do wish you & DAP well.
Teresa, as long as you walk tall and talk straight, there’s nothing to worry about.
In fact, if you look at some of the blogs, you’ll find that many BN politicians are being nicely grilled.
One BN woman politician was shocked by the language used on her in some of these blogs!
All these are part and parcel of being a people’s rep.
Hello ALVIN…- Gobind and I are in Puchong quite often, dealing with all sorts of issues and meeting numerous people but where were you when we touch base with the constituents. Regardless, we invite you to email us directly with your concerns and we would do our very best to attend to it.
YB, Alvin is an obvious BN troll, you should just ignore him.
I agree that FMT is no long it used to be. to ALVIN, I live in Puchong too and Tersa and Gobin have been very helpful and concern about our taman. I personally talked with and saw them not lesser than 6 times.