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Utusan, BH, Star, NST circulations drop

Anil Netto
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Utusan has been very much in the news for its sensationalist and racially tinged reporting. Less well known is the fact that the paper’s circulation has been sliding over the last four years.

According to Audit Bureau of Circulation (figures for West Malaysia publications for the period ending 31 December 2009), Utusan Malaysia’s daily circulation has dropped 21 per cent from 213,445 in 2006 to 169,548 in 2009. The group revenue of Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd fell correspondingly from RM384m in 2006 to RM349m in 2009, according to Utusan’s Annual Report for 2009. This had an impact on its bottom line as well, as profit before tax plunged from RM21m to RM7m in the last four years. The firm’s performance was saved by sister publication Kosmo!’s steady rise in circulation from 100,798 in 2007 to 172,253 in 2009.

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Beng Hock is not forgotten

Anil Netto
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Some 300 people packed a hall in Penang this afternoon for a Malaysians for Beng Hock forum organised by civil society groups.


Nora Murat, executive director of Amnesty International Malaysia, challenged the government to declare Malaysia a torture-free nation – Photo by Anil

Aliran president P Ramakrishnan called for the Beng Hock inquest to be disbanded and replaced with a royal commission of inquiry.

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-09-05

Anil Netto
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  • Amnesty s Nora challenges the govt to declare Msia a torture-free country. More loud applause. #
  • Aliran president Rama says if you want things to change, you must change the govt. The crowd breaks out with the loudest cheer of the af … #
  • Kin woon notes that concern over beng hock s death is still strong and far from dwindling. The crowd breaks out in applause as if to end … #
  • Beng hock s sister calls for public support backed by action and the setting up of a royal commission of inquiry to seek justice. #
  • Fighting back tears, beng hock s sister delivers a heart rending message via video to the audience in penang, who listen in rapt attention. #
  • Beng hock s sister is speaking via a recorded video message relayed to a packed hall in penang. #
  • About 300 people in packed hall in han chiang school for malaysians for beng hock forum. Standing room only now. #
  • Man forgives British soldier who shot & blinded him w/ a rubber bullet. Now they R friends http://bit.ly/a7RbdM #
  • Record rise in UK home solar panels fitted. What about M'sia with its abundant sunshine? http://bbc.in/aW5lsW #

Woman attempts citizen’s arrest on Blair

Anil Netto
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Anti-war protesters gave former British premier Tony Blair a torrid reception when he turned up to sign copies of his autobiography at a book-store in Dublin.

One activist, Kate O’Sullivan, who managed to enter the book-store, tried to make a citizen’s arrest on Blair for war crimes in Iraq. Here is her account:

Financial crisis an ‘Inside Job’: Cannes film

Anil Netto
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The global financial crisis? We were set up by insiders, this revealing documentary proposes.

“You were robbed. There was a bank robbery. And the bank robbery wasn’t done by someone who came in with a gun, it was the bank president.” – Oscar-nominated filmmaker Charles Ferguson

Check out the background to the film on Indiewire here.

Have a look at one Malaysian firm’s role at the epi-centre of the crisis on Sarawak Report here.

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If San Francisco can do it…

Anil Netto
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… why not Penang and the rest of Malaysia? We don’t need incinerators and more land-fills, just a well thought out recycling, composting and waste reduction policy.

Thanks to sinyc for the heads-up on this GreenBiz article:

SAN FRANCISCO - JUNE 11: Norcal Waste worker ...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Recycling and composting helped the city of San Francisco divert 77 percent of its garbage from landfills in 2008, which it hailed as a national record and the highest of any city in the U.S.

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Pos Malaysia for sale: What’s the rationale?

Anil Netto
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Khazanah wants to sell its 32.21 per cent stake in Pos Malaysia – soon after postal tariffs were substantially hiked. What’s the rationale?

Why raise tariffs so much from 1 July and then sell its stake? Shouldn’t the profit from the higher tariffs remain in government hands instead of transferring the immediate benefit to private hands or other entities?

It’s not as if the postal company is losing money. Not by a long shot. Despite all its inefficiencies, Pos Malaysia posted a profit before tax of RRM109 million for the year ended 31 December 2009 – up from a loss before tax of RM0.5 million the previous year.

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RPK and HARDtalk: BBC hardly impartial

Anil Netto
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Many Malaysians have expressed disappointment  over the BBC’s backing down from a ‘HARDtalk’ interview with RPK.

Much of this sentiment, I believe, stems from a perception that the BBC is a bastion of impartial, independent reporting.

Far from it. The BBC reflects the establishment viewpoint in the UK. Its positions on the illegal invasion of Iraq, the US-UK role in Afghanistan and the Israeli occupation of Palestine are well documented.

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As MIC wanes, Najib uses direct approach

Anil Netto
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The MIC appears to have slid out of the picture after its poor showing in 2008 as Prime Minister Najib reaches out directly to Indian Malaysians in a series of events.

Giant cut-out of Najib at Batu Caves - Photo courtesy of Mkini

30 Jan – Najib visits Batu Caves on Thaipusam eve. He becomes only the second PM to visit the site after his father. But a giant replica of him at the venue becomes an issue – as did the refusal to allow the Selangor MB to speak at the same venue.

23 April – Najib officiates at the 1Malaysia Vaisakhi Open House at the Indera Mulia Stadium in Ipoh. He announces an allocation of RM4 million to assist in “strengthening cultural aspects, language teaching and repair and maintenance of Sikh houses of worship across the country”. See Berita Harian report here. “You help me…”?

12 June – Najib launches SMC2010, endorsed by the Sri Murugan Centre, and reportedly offers “more scholarships and direct financial aid for Tamil schools under the 10th Malaysian Plan”. See Malaysian Insider report here.

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Man forgives soldier who blinded him

Anil Netto
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If you are finding it difficult to forgive someone, then this tale of reconciliation might be helpful.

Richard Moore has forgiven a British soldier who fired a rubber bullet and blinded him when he was just a child aged 10 in Northern Ireland. Now, they are friends.

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