988: Oppositions Alleges Tiger Chua Fucks The Chinese community
Tiger, did you betray us? If not, get 988 up and running right away. Else, you can expect the community to ask you to fuck spider.
Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle
Even before the dust settles on his party’s row with Umno, MCA president Chua Soi Lek has landed in a new scrape and this time he cannot hide his true colors anymore.
In his handling of the 988 fiasco, where the popular Chinese radio station was practically shut down after complaints by industry regulator MCMC, pundits say it is clear Chua has opted to toe the BN line despite his promises to do what is right by the community.
“When it comes to the 30 percent Bumiputera equity, Chua can talk as daring as he likes because he knows Umno will counter and the final decision will never be made by him anyway but by Umno,” PKR vice president Lee Boon Chye told Malaysia Chronicle.
“But when it comes to 988, which is owned by MCA, he can no longer just talk. He has to take action, he has to respond because there is a letter from the MCMC. Then you can see his true colours - by his actions. Straightaway, he sacrifices Chinese interest and also tries to put the blame on the staff at the station.”
On Friday, amid public outcry, Chua said MCA has never interfered in Star RFM, which owns the 988 station. However, MCA watchers immediately shot down his explanation, pointing out that Star RFM is in turn owned by public-listed Star Publications, which also manages flagship daily The Star.
“Chua must think the Chinese are stupid. Who are the largest shareholders in Star Publications, is it not MCA and its related units? Is Chua also saying MCA never interferes in the editorial policy of the Star? He is not only being hypocritical but he is insulting our intelligence,” an MCA insider told Malaysia Chronicle.
As public anger grows over 988's shut-down and the suspension of its key deejays, there is also speculation that Chua was victimizing top talk-show host Jamaluddin Ibrahim, who is believed to be a supporter of his predecessor Ong Tee Keat.
Crime against Malaysian human rights
But mostly, the move is seen as part of a BN clampdown on the media ahead of the Sarawak state elections expected in October/November and general elections forecast for the latter half of next year.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has since explained it was not responsible for the removal of the 988 staff, but was merely investigating the station for allegedly breaching licence conditions following “several complaints’ on the morning program hosted by Jamaluddin.
But it did not say how many complaints were received, or give any indication as to who the complainants were. Also, while the MCMC denies it asked for the 988 staff to be sacked, a closer look at the letter it issued to the Star also reveals the pressure it can exert on employers.
“Issues relating to staffing of any licensee is an internal matter within the organisation. The MCMC is unable to comment. Any actions taken by the MCMC will be in accordance with the licence conditions for radio stations and provisions under any relevant laws,” it said.
And MCA is an accessory
Unsurprisingly, pundits have slammed the MCMC for its high-handed action. They also took Chua to task for back-tracking on his promises and accused him of making MCA an accessory to a crime against Malaysian human rights.
“Malaysians have a right to a more open society where people can freely discuss current issues and problems such as racism, corruption and abuses of power. Is the MCMC, Chua and the BN government saying all these do not exist?” PKR leader and human rights lawyer Gooi Hsiao Leung told Malaysia Chronicle.
“The truth is always painful but it needs to come out and the BN should listen if it is sincere in wanting a better future for all Malaysians. The real threat does not come from spontaneous radio talk shows but from suppression by a corrupt elite who only cares about manipulating the nation for their own interest. By toeing the line in the 988 case, Chua is not only acting against the rights of Malaysians but he is making MCA do the same as well."
Popout
Gavin Khoo
The removal of Jamaluddin Ibrahim - a host of the Chinese radio station 988's popular Hello Malaysia programme - for allegedly offending the authorities with his remarks on sensitive racial issues is another black eye for press freedom in Malaysia.
PM Najib's administration is again showing its insecurity and intolerance over dissent and discussion over political, social and governance issues. Unfortunately, the MCMC and the Home Ministry had practiced double standards when parties such as Perkasa and Utusan Melayu had manufactured more racial hatred, lies and hostility.
Jamaluddin told Malaysiakini that the management told him that he had been taken off the air indefinitely from today.
According to him the management received a letter from MCMC yesterday.
The letter named him, saying that the programme is suspected of "threatening national security" and "compromising race relationships".
I had known Jamal for a couple of months and might even use him for a movie my company is jointly producing with a Beijing production house and the famed Beijing Film Academy. Jamal had consistently stayed away from any political related events and tried to stay neutral. He has persistently promoted multiracialism and a truly multiracial political model.
Although a Malay by ethnicity, Jamal is truly reflective of 1Malaysia. He studied in Beijing and took the interest to learn about another culture. His educational background did not make him less Malay unlike a particular Chinese Muslim academician who had forgotten his racial roots.
I had a pleasure to join him twice on his radio programme despite my lack of Mandarin proficiency. He assured me that language is only a medium of communication and took the pain to translate and explain to the listeners my comments.
If his programme is deemed a threat to national security, those cow head protesters, Ibrahim Ali, Ahmad Ismail and other Perkasa members should be locked up in high security prison for life.
I would like to urge all of you to PROTEST the action taken against Jamal. I heard both Qiu Yue and Joe Liaw will be taken off over the next few days too.
This country has stooped too low. Only those as idiotic and ridiculous as the MACC prosecutor Abdul Razak Musa will climb up the leadership ladder.
In this case, 988FM did not have a choice but to remove Jamal and the rest from the morning programme. The radio station was threatened with a removal of their operating license if they refused to take any action against the hosts.
This is a black day for Malaysia press freedom. Ironically, I had just commented on our depressing press freedom index at an international online journalism forum this morning.
Any democratically elected government must be open to criticism. This government, surprisingly, has taken a dangerous path of intolerance and repression.
So shameful!
In 988, Chua takes MCA down in suppressing M'sian civil rights
Even before the dust settles on his party’s row with Umno, MCA president Chua Soi Lek has landed in a new scrape and this time he cannot hide his true colors anymore.
In his handling of the 988 fiasco, where the popular Chinese radio station was practically shut down after complaints by industry regulator MCMC, pundits say it is clear Chua has opted to toe the BN line despite his promises to do what is right by the community.
“When it comes to the 30 percent Bumiputera equity, Chua can talk as daring as he likes because he knows Umno will counter and the final decision will never be made by him anyway but by Umno,” PKR vice president Lee Boon Chye told Malaysia Chronicle.
“But when it comes to 988, which is owned by MCA, he can no longer just talk. He has to take action, he has to respond because there is a letter from the MCMC. Then you can see his true colours - by his actions. Straightaway, he sacrifices Chinese interest and also tries to put the blame on the staff at the station.”
On Friday, amid public outcry, Chua said MCA has never interfered in Star RFM, which owns the 988 station. However, MCA watchers immediately shot down his explanation, pointing out that Star RFM is in turn owned by public-listed Star Publications, which also manages flagship daily The Star.
“Chua must think the Chinese are stupid. Who are the largest shareholders in Star Publications, is it not MCA and its related units? Is Chua also saying MCA never interferes in the editorial policy of the Star? He is not only being hypocritical but he is insulting our intelligence,” an MCA insider told Malaysia Chronicle.
As public anger grows over 988's shut-down and the suspension of its key deejays, there is also speculation that Chua was victimizing top talk-show host Jamaluddin Ibrahim, who is believed to be a supporter of his predecessor Ong Tee Keat.
Crime against Malaysian human rights
But mostly, the move is seen as part of a BN clampdown on the media ahead of the Sarawak state elections expected in October/November and general elections forecast for the latter half of next year.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has since explained it was not responsible for the removal of the 988 staff, but was merely investigating the station for allegedly breaching licence conditions following “several complaints’ on the morning program hosted by Jamaluddin.
But it did not say how many complaints were received, or give any indication as to who the complainants were. Also, while the MCMC denies it asked for the 988 staff to be sacked, a closer look at the letter it issued to the Star also reveals the pressure it can exert on employers.
“Issues relating to staffing of any licensee is an internal matter within the organisation. The MCMC is unable to comment. Any actions taken by the MCMC will be in accordance with the licence conditions for radio stations and provisions under any relevant laws,” it said.
And MCA is an accessory
Unsurprisingly, pundits have slammed the MCMC for its high-handed action. They also took Chua to task for back-tracking on his promises and accused him of making MCA an accessory to a crime against Malaysian human rights.
“Malaysians have a right to a more open society where people can freely discuss current issues and problems such as racism, corruption and abuses of power. Is the MCMC, Chua and the BN government saying all these do not exist?” PKR leader and human rights lawyer Gooi Hsiao Leung told Malaysia Chronicle.
“The truth is always painful but it needs to come out and the BN should listen if it is sincere in wanting a better future for all Malaysians. The real threat does not come from spontaneous radio talk shows but from suppression by a corrupt elite who only cares about manipulating the nation for their own interest. By toeing the line in the 988 case, Chua is not only acting against the rights of Malaysians but he is making MCA do the same as well."
Popout
988 fiasco: Another black eye for press freedom in Malaysia
The removal of Jamaluddin Ibrahim - a host of the Chinese radio station 988's popular Hello Malaysia programme - for allegedly offending the authorities with his remarks on sensitive racial issues is another black eye for press freedom in Malaysia.
PM Najib's administration is again showing its insecurity and intolerance over dissent and discussion over political, social and governance issues. Unfortunately, the MCMC and the Home Ministry had practiced double standards when parties such as Perkasa and Utusan Melayu had manufactured more racial hatred, lies and hostility.
Jamaluddin told Malaysiakini that the management told him that he had been taken off the air indefinitely from today.
According to him the management received a letter from MCMC yesterday.
The letter named him, saying that the programme is suspected of "threatening national security" and "compromising race relationships".
I had known Jamal for a couple of months and might even use him for a movie my company is jointly producing with a Beijing production house and the famed Beijing Film Academy. Jamal had consistently stayed away from any political related events and tried to stay neutral. He has persistently promoted multiracialism and a truly multiracial political model.
Although a Malay by ethnicity, Jamal is truly reflective of 1Malaysia. He studied in Beijing and took the interest to learn about another culture. His educational background did not make him less Malay unlike a particular Chinese Muslim academician who had forgotten his racial roots.
I had a pleasure to join him twice on his radio programme despite my lack of Mandarin proficiency. He assured me that language is only a medium of communication and took the pain to translate and explain to the listeners my comments.
If his programme is deemed a threat to national security, those cow head protesters, Ibrahim Ali, Ahmad Ismail and other Perkasa members should be locked up in high security prison for life.
I would like to urge all of you to PROTEST the action taken against Jamal. I heard both Qiu Yue and Joe Liaw will be taken off over the next few days too.
This country has stooped too low. Only those as idiotic and ridiculous as the MACC prosecutor Abdul Razak Musa will climb up the leadership ladder.
In this case, 988FM did not have a choice but to remove Jamal and the rest from the morning programme. The radio station was threatened with a removal of their operating license if they refused to take any action against the hosts.
This is a black day for Malaysia press freedom. Ironically, I had just commented on our depressing press freedom index at an international online journalism forum this morning.
Any democratically elected government must be open to criticism. This government, surprisingly, has taken a dangerous path of intolerance and repression.
So shameful!
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