THE newspapers in the New Straits Times Press group do not take sides, Abdul Jalil Hamid told his editorial staff in a meeting this evening on the new challenges they face brought about by the change in government.

NSTP chief executive officer told staff that the online content and news reports the group had produced since polling day have been neutral and impartial.

“We don’t take sides. We want balanced reporting and support all policies by the government. We will provide both sides of the news,” Jalil told the town hall meeting.

“We welcome the Pakatan Harapan government’s commitment to uphold freedom of the press.”

The newspapers in the NSTP stable – New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro – were accused of running a campaign against PH with biased reports.

PH and its chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad were portrayed in a negative light with little effort made to print the pact’s rebuttal to Barisan Nasional’s attacks during the campaign.

Jalil’s meeting today came hours after his colleague, Media Prima’s group managing editor of News and Current Affairs Mohamad Ashraf Abdullah, was told to leave.

The removal of Ashraf was seen as a pre-emptive move by Media Prima to appease the new masters at Putrajaya.

Since Dr Mahathir was sworn in as the prime minister, supporters of the new government have drawn up lists of individuals who they feel should be hauled up for spreading lies and acting unfairly against PH.

Ashraf’s name has been high on several of these lists because of the hatchet job the Bulletin Utama did on Dr Mahathir and other critics of former prime minister Najib Razak.

Jalil’s name was also whispered in media circles as one of those facing the chop.

However, he appears to have survived the chop, for now. – May 14, 2018.