I've noticed that the recent tribulations within our country and the government has made us less ignorant than we were before and even to the extent of being proactive in matters pertaining to our troubled nation - a rare sight.
So the average Bobby goes to a newsstand to get our daily press to read the dailies such as The Star or NST somewhat skewed from the news he hears around the water dispenser during breaks. Bobby starts doing the next best thing, internet research on Malaysian news. He finds links to the newspapers that he has read. The fourth site however, brought him to a whole new world; Malaysiakini.
Their:
Vision
To use the Internet to provide free and fair news to the Malaysian public and to set new standards in journalism as well as to support the development of freedom of speech, social justice and democracy in Malaysia.
Mission
To publish an online newspaper that informs the Malaysian public of the latest news and critical issues in an independent and fair manner, and to facilitate discussion of current concerns, thereby challenging the views produced by the government-dominated mainstream media.
It's a noble cause. See what others can't, know what others don't. See the other side of the story or even the gray area, because the 'white' side doesn't stretch very far. You never know who's right or who's wrong but one thing's for sure, it screams of a Malay metaphor I remember so well, "Ada ketam di sebalik batu" (translated as "There's a crab behind the stone") meaning hidden agendas.
Even the recently announced Budget 2008 that was aimed at enhancing the nation's competitiveness, strengthening human capital development and ensuring the well-being of all Malaysians was not spared and described as an "unusual one” with a mix of “confused priorities” and “mismatch objectives” and above all, pointed at elections.
Then there are numerous open criticisms concerning government decisions as well as reports of shady activities. I shan't comment on any of these as someone like me who barely reads newspapers or malaysiakini for that matter inadequate information and that it's better to leave it to the experts.
But I've seen what an overdose of MK can do to one. You feel irritated at the slightest things and would develop chronic Aaahism, the unwritten disease of someone incessantly going "Aaah" at the slightest things and proceed to come up with an alternate conspiracy theory. (a friend of mine jYong comes to mind, hahah) It increases your blood pressure, no matter which side you're on - because you either are losing due to certain unfair policies or (assuming you're a person who actually cares and have the slightest bit of integrity) are just plain ashamed.
I can feel that my love for Malaysia is slowly metamorphing into a love-hate relationship. The increasing problems faced by our people cause me to to think more. And the more I think, the more I wonder whether my permanent residentship is worth keeping any longer. Yes, you may argue that it isn't any better overseas with racism and poverty shooting through the roof. But for now it seems like it's led by more civilized and less selfish people. I don't think there's a conclusion to this post but more of a big rant that I had to let out. Can you feel my frustration?
Can you feel his? All for freedom of press, yo.
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