After making much noise on my blog over unfair remarks of me written by Nadeswaran and Terence Fernandez inThe Sun, The Sun finally published my letter/press statement of clarification.
The editor of The Sun, however, left a line in the printed version of the paper that said “The writers stand by their reports and their opinions despite Kok’s assertions”.
Hi hi, typical attitude of adamant writers, i.e. they are forever right, they are forever the heroes that champion for the cause of rakyat, and they can run down whoever base on “sources”, and they are “The Truth, The Way and The Life” :-))
A friend of mine who follow my blog comforted me and asked me not to think about and write on this issue anymore as I sound emotional in my writing. I told him that I would leave this aside soon after I have cleared my name, at least on my blog. Thank God for having such things as websites and blogs.
I graduated from the school of Communication in USM. I never regretted studying in USM for four years because the course and the training I have undergone in USM have shaped my views and stance in politics and social concern. In my four year course, what the lecturers repeatedly taught us were the ethics, principles and professionalism of media and journalist.
I still remember one of my lecturers, Dr Hamimah, who was a very fierce and strict lecturer. Once she entered the lecture hall with a stack of newspapers. She then read all the headlines of the news report and bad writing of news reports that have gone against the basic principles of journalism, one of them is “sources said……”. She said to us, “What does it mean by sources said?” She said, “Is that the truth? Can that source be trusted or credible because no name has been mentioned?” She then threw all those papers with lousy reporting on the floor and said they were rubbish.
After I came out to work became involved in politics, I know journalists quote unnamed sources because they have to protect the informers. As in my case, what made me angry with the pair’s writings was, they wrote in the way that set aside my clarification even right from day one, they put heading that created misconception among the public until resident associations, and misled them to criticise Ronnie Liu and me. This is bad! And this is vicious!!
Frankly, I know who is the source that fed information to them. I can tell you the reason that person did this and the problems created by the “source”, but I don’t want to expose it even in my blog, because I don’t have evidence. If I do so, I will be making the same mistakes like the duo in The Sun.
When I checked The Sun’s website, I saw the advertisement/banners promoting a few writers of The Sun, and they named these two guys as the NOTORIOUS DUO. The ad says “Nadeswaran …. when he writes, the high and mighty scramble. He targets the corrupt, the insensitive and the corrupt………“, “Terence Fernandez will do anything for a story…….“. I have strong reservation over such boastful remarks made by journalists. To me, no one in politics is spare from being criticised, but most important is, the criticism has to be based on facts and truth. Journalists should not be spared from being criticised too.
If you ask me what I think of these “Notorious Duo” now? My answer will be “I believe they are conscientious writers and they try to be watchdog for the rakyat”, however, emotionally, I feel very upset over the pieces that they wrote have gone against the truth, is prejudice and is misleading.
Ya, I will leave this issue to rest. I know it is not wise to go against columnist and renowned journalists, but as a politician that champion for the cause of the rakyat, if I don’t clear my name, who else will do that for me? My conscience is clear.
Yes, I stand by my writing and criticism against the “Notorious Duo” on my blog too.
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=24903
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Hmmm…
I know you are upset and angry… but still I believe both of them are decent journalist if you really compare them with say The Star or NST people…
Like what you have mentioned… Don’t cari gaduh with columnists/journalists/media editors… Maybe you yourself have to also be vigilant and careful when dealing with media as well… 🙂
After all they are also the one who did the expose of BAKRI controversy… 😉 (How was the BAKRI thing going on? :P)
I am of the opinion that the two parties involved, Nadeswaran and Fernandez on one side and YBs Teresa Kok and Ronnie Liu on the other, are great champions and watchdogs for the Rakyat. All are good people. I don’t see any reason why those involved in this little misunderstanding cannot meet up and patch up.Please do.
Teresa
Great to enter your website. It has been sometime that i hear from you in the media. Problably u r bc doing your work for the rakyat.
Anyway, no matter what, I envy and appreciate what u hv done in your constituency. So do Nades and Fernandez did a great job in the SUN.
We must sometimes look back and analyse what we did. Nobody is perfect even between best of friends we also do hv misunderstandings.
I am sure you folks all have the same agenda to make Malaysia a better place ti live for everybody.
It is important everybody patch up and move on.
Bless all u folks.
Please allow my two-sen worth of opinion.
When I read your earlier post on Air Asia with a picture of Tony Fernandez’s arm over your shoulder, and with a title which echoed AA’s slogan, I got uncomfortable as it was reminiscent of Eusoffe Chin’s infamous picture. I believe you are upright and just trying to be business-friendly but what will others think, I wondered then. I refrained from commenting as I knew no matter how it would sound like sour grapes on my part.
I think it has a lot to do with perception. Under the present circumstances, any action which is friendly towards the businessmen, like the Rehda members, are likely to be viewed as ‘like BN’ or ‘no different from BN’.
Journalists are influential because of their reach, as many people still rely on the mainstream media. Sometimes, they can be aloof in not responding to comments and so on. They too can get big-headed. Maybe, they are enjoying your display of anger and attention.
Anyway, you cannot please everyone. Let your conscience be your guide.
Ong, YB unfortunately has many roles to play. In a way it is easier to be an opposition because you need not accommodate various conflicting interest and appear righteous.
However, as a responsible administrator, YB has to give sufficient air time to both side.
Whatever the flyboy did, rightly or wrongly depending on how you are, YB has to give him time. If letting him “a little ham sap” on YB shoulders, then what tens of thousands paying to AA to fly everywhere?
YB is not sleeping with the devil by seeing a legitimate businessmen. I doubt YB Kok can give him much grand deal because most of the control is still with federal administration. I also believe whatever the flying accountant wants, YB will give fair, but not undue consideration.
As for the Sun, let’s put it this way. When they write, one of the objective is to influence people’s thinking but with YB’s clarification and blog message, people can see her side and I am sure people would weight that properly.
Base on experience, the previous administration people would react by
1) threatening ISA, OSA
2) pretend not to hear
3) tell people to close 1 eye
YB Kok’s reaction is an open display of fury backed up by a writing of facts, analysis and valid view points.
Base on years of birds/politicians observation, I trust YB Kok’s version.
In a democracy, the Sun has the right to be wrong and stay wrong.
Dear Sassy MP!
I think you are a little emotional now. I am sure you have cooled down now. Just like others I am also a fan of both you and the Sun duo. I read the sun, the rest of the main stream media and also the bloggers. Even though I had been following your blog even before the PRU12, I refrain from commenting I wish not to add more rubbish. (Sorry, many responses do not make sense).
But after reading the The Sun’s hillside policy reports as many I too believed it. Nades and Terence are the only two of the few has the freedom to write what they want in the main stream media. Do not relate what they write to the examples given by your lecturer. I accept that they make boastful remarks- as in their paper’s website. I have read that a well known short story writer in Tamil Nadu told a senior writer that (translated) “Other then two of us, who else write stories of value. The rest are rubbish” He paused and continued “Just to please you I said both of us. Only I write the good stuff”. That particular writer was cocky? Yes. If you could read what he wrote in his short life of 36 years, I am sure you will concur with him. Quality people can boast. I don’t see anything wrong.
What about you? I agree your intentions were noble. Just like Nades and Terence, can we see visually your noble intentions? 50 years of rotten politics has made us suspicious of all politicians. Events in the last few weeks have questioned the public’s judgement during PRU12. (Read today’s Malaysiakini headline) I may sound suspicious of you. No we are suspicious of all the politicians.
I believe that you did not push for hillside development. There is a lot rubbish need to be cleared in our country. I wish you well and hope that PR could stay the course and at least full fill part of the election promises.
Do not make enemies out of the few who support what the present Selangor government does. Clear up the issues. You are in public office. It is going to be like this. Your statements finally cleared the suspicions. Do take care of the environment for our future generations. The power is in your hands.
Keep up the good work.
If a senior exco like Teresa has to explain everything, everytime she meets a businessman, Selangor will be as poor as Kelantan by 2013 as everybody as to spend time explaining rather than actually doing something.
Some talks are private and should remain out of the public domain. Only when matters between the state govt and business parties have been completed should the public be invited to make submissions.
“When I read your earlier post on Air Asia with a picture of Tony Fernandez’s arm over your shoulder,….” K S Ong
I hope that a lesson will be learnt from all this.
I think that there are those who should be kept at arm’s length, quite literally.
Any closeness or perceived closeness is a no-no.
As a government official as opposed to one who was in the opposition, a lot of people will want to be chummy with you. Some with ulterior motives while others may just be friendly.
Remember, you’ll be judged by a high standard.
The truth is slowly emerging and politiking is the root of this evil. Un-named sources say The Sun’s informer for the controversial parts of the stories was a female rep.
YB,
from an ardent follower of Malaysian politics from Macao:
There are always two sides to a coin, and there will always be. So to some it is heads, to others: tail.
Therefore, as for the players, it is most important to stand upright and believe in what you do. In public office, your every move and action is subject to public scrutiny – so it is most important that you believe in yourself and never forget that truth always prevail.
For people who believe in you, everything you do is always good. To the others, nothing you do or touch is good or correct – that is life.
So, it is best to remember that it takes all kinds of people to make this world, including politicians and journalists – lets just be considerate at all time (Same message to Nades and Terence) 🙂
In being considerate, sometimes when we flip the coin, it does stand upright, neither head nor tails – that is the middle ground that we should sometimes consider – and the whole world will be a better place.
A bit cryptic 🙂
YB Kok…just do what you reckon is beneficial to the rakyat, ignore those statements that are not truthful.
Rakyat Selangor need your guts & spirit. We support you.
成功十则
1. 努力, 努力, 再努力
2. 学习, 学习, 再学习
3. 严防小人
4. 屡遇贵人
5. 进要乘风破浪
6. 退要海阔天空
7. 守要明哲保身
8. 福慧双修
9. 三位一体, 自我造化
10. 一将功成万家兴
I guess both Nades and Terence can be cocky at times just because they have won some awards. One claims to be a lawyer while the other intending to be a lawyer (haven’t completed his course yet!). They do have their good points in exposing all the dirty things that have been happening within the BN.
However, you still must be careful when dealing with businessmen who had no time for you or your party but now seems to be very pally-pally with you after March 8.
Deal with them strictly and according to the law and the people will never fault you or your party.
Hi Terasa
I know u r bc.
How come whenever I enter your website, I saw the same old news. For exp, there is not comments on the PP by-election rtc….???
Hope u can give your viewers more updates concerning not only your constituency but also about any ongoings about our country etc..
Dear Teresa,
I have been following the recent Citizen Nades – Teresa Kok debate with interest. Having read both your articles and his, I would have to say that I did not feel very comfortable with the manner that Citizen Nades wrote.
From a general reader’s perspective, his article was harsh, one-sided and sweeping. The good apples are mixed with the bad ones. Parties of good standing are unfairly being painted in the same light. It seems that all developers are a dirty lot, period.
It does not matter whose call it is for a meeting. What matters is that the developers also have the right to be heard. He failed to see that the developers also comprise of rakyat with voting rights and the current administration is only doing their duty to listen to their side of the story and to see to their needs. The key is to balance everybody’s needs although you can’t please everyone all the time.
There is no difference between the landowners of hillslopes and landowners around hillslopes. Both are simply rich landowners. If the landowners of hillslopes must give up his property in the name of the ‘environment,’ so must landowners surrounding hillslopes. Landowners of hillslopes have always allowed their property to be green (and will have to continue to do so), but landowners living around hillslopes are already guilty of clearing a then green area to make home. Since the ban on hillslope developments stands, the landowners surrounding hillslopes that are so fervent about the lack of green areas, should volunteer to give up their homes, have the area demolished and replanted with trees to enlarge the green lung and give back what they have taken all these years.
Contrary to what Nades said, the rakyat does NOT have the right to assume. They have the responsibility to find out the truth. The rakyat, however, have the right to question. The objective of the write-up is clearly to apply pressure. Relevance, proof, and facts are all secondary. But then, the notorious duo, are probably too cowardly to admit this.
As a rakyat, I urge you not to let their bully put aside your practice of fairness.
I want to take this oppotunity to highlight some immediate dangers. Any natural slope that is exposed to the elements is at risk of landslide. Trees with horizontal roots are subject to collapse and lend weight causing an even serious landslide. If you’ve been driving up to Fraser’s Hill as much as I have, you would have suffered roadblocks as a result of fallen trees. That is why slopes are engineered for better safety. Delayed works at hillslopes are extremely dangerous to the residents living below it. The stop work orders have left slopes exposed and come the rainy season (which is now!), I certainly fear for the lives of these residents. When disaster strikes, the self-proclaimed ‘heros’ who are responsible for delaying these works will have to justify the potential risks they are putting on these residents by preventing proper engineering of slopes.
I’m sure your conscience will never be cleared if you did not do anything to prevent such disaster.