Najib says he doesn’t expect much of a political honeymoon – never mind the customary 100-day settling-in period for an incoming leader – in terms of the level of scrutiny he is likely to receive if he takes over as PM as planned.
But now we see the removal of a high level of media scrutiny for the prime minister-to-be.
The three-month suspension of the permits of Harakah and Suara Keadilan allows Najib an 84-day honeymoon (assuming he takes over from 1 April) from scathing criticism from the Pas and PKR party newspapers. It is a serious blow to press freedom in Malaysia.
Crucially, the suspensions will also severely handicap Pakatan’s attempts to reach out to the Malay-speaking rural voters in Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang during the by-elections campaigns from 29 March to 6 April.
Suara Keadilan, for instance, had put the BN on the defensive during the Kuala Terengganu by-election campaign in January. It front-paged a report headlined “Najib bohong” about unfulfilled campaign promises during the Permatang Pauh campaign last August. This forced the BN to take immediate action in Permatang Pauh to see to it that its campaign pledges to various religious centres were met, prompting a PKR source to quip, “It was the first time we saw the BN rushing to dish out help in a different constituency during a by-election campaign.”
The report, apparently, did not go down well with Umno leaders.
With a circulation of about 150,000, Suara Keadilan now has a reach that surpasses the New Straits Times’.
Keadilan Youth is also spearheading a nationwide “Say NO to Najib” campaign.
| Please help to support this blog if you can. Read the commenting guidlelines for this blog. |
Control the press and you control the world…
I am sure everyone knows by now that any publication/newspaper funded by any political party is not what is generally considered to be objective NEWS from a FREE PRESS but political PROPAGANDA from the relevant party funding and controlling it.
For myself, free press in Malaysia would include the independent news reported by Malaysiakini and some of the more well-balanced and independent reporting in blogger-blogs.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
Since when Najib worried about what is written in Harakah and Suara Keadilan ?
The stories in them are so outlandish that they rival the american supermarket tabloid for the publication with lowest credibility. Only a complete moron or PR supporters read and believe these “toilet” papers.
the tiger of Jelutong is more than what the DAP can handle…
lim guan eng please clean up the streets of Penang and river
make sure everything is neat orderly and clean just like Singapore..
WE VOTED FOF CHANGE NOT BEING SHORTCHANGED…
My2cen, remember the present CM of Penang YAB Lim Guan Eng was arrested and charged and jailed under the Printing Act for distributing a leaflet on the pregnant teenage girl in Malacca who was allegedly a victim of a Malacca VVIP then, so be cautious.
Anil, I do not see any problem. I still believe, house to house campaigning is most effective in rural areas…and, PAS is a master using foot soldiers.
In any case, Bukit Gantang is as good as in the bag, barring dirty tricks from BN. Bukit Selambau it was a touch and go situation for both PR and BN, now with Samy malu reappearance, it has become a liability for BN…it will tilt the scale in favor of PR.
PAS and PKR should run like MLM companies, just print some leaflets and distribute them via theur own networks. Then have regular tea or supper group talks in as many houses that will house them as possible to distribute their news.
Najib is ‘tengah pening” after Anwar met Pak Lah and after Hj Hadi suggest for a unity government between PR and BN for Pak Lah to stay as PM…
and Rosmah is pressuring him…?
Now without Harakah and Suara Keadilan but we still have cyberspace. But friends, don’t forget GRAFFITTI ! – WRITE ON THE WALLS! GET BACK TO BASICS!