JAILED opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim controlled the media while he was deputy prime minister, claims former information minister Zainuddin Maidin, who said that as such, Pakatan Harapan was unlikely to fulfil its promise of greater media freedom if it takes over Putrajaya.

“Anwar often controlled the newspapers, on what could and could not be reported.  He even called the (newspaper) offices,” said the former Utusan Melayu chief editor. 

Zainuddin said he was sure that Anwar, who is de facto leader of PH and PKR, upon a return to power, would control the media as he used to do during his “glorious years in Umno”.

Zainuddin said DAP-led Penang’s shunning of pro-government Utusan Melayu was further proof that PH would not deliver its promises of a free media.

“If DAP or PH comes into power, it is not a given that they will give the media freedom. Because the situation was like that even when Anwar was deputy prime minister,” he said.

“I am not confident that there will be media freedom (under PH). Take, for example, how Utusan Melayu is shunned by DAP In Penang,” Zainuddin told The Malaysian Insight in an interview.

A Berita Harian reporter has claimed that Penang DAP leaders shunned representatives of government-owned media outlets. 

These media outlets are not invited to government events and their reporters are sometimes humiliated when they ask questions during press conferences.

“We don’t get invitations. When we ask questions at press conferences, they will ask where (which media company) we are from. Then they will say they don’t take questions from BN media, BN liars,” said the reporter, who declined to be named.

“Even before the press conference has started, we (pro-Umno media) are already humiliated in front of other reporters.”

But those on the opposite side of the political divide have also had their share of run-ins with the media. Recently, Umno Youth chief and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar ejected a Malaysiakini reporter from an event, saying the decision was his to make as the host and that opposition politicians had also done the same to reporters at ther events.

Zainuddin said such an attitude did not benefit anyone because information was easily obtained these days.

“In this age, when information is at one’s fingertips, being negative and unfriendly to the press doesn’t do you any good.

“In the past, bad things can be hidden. But today, where can you hide? People can do all sorts of things (to get and circulate information). The social media is vast,” said the author of “Pergi Mampuslah Umno”.

No need to fear the media

Zainuddin, who is formerly the Merbok MP, said politicians should be bolder with the media, instead of evading them or telling them to go away.

He said they should emulate former prime minister Dr Mahathir’s way of handling the media.

“He faces the press. He is always willing to talk and he doesn’t get aggressive with them. He never says he doesn’t want to meet the press.

“Even with the foreign media, Dr Mahathir is bold. He will answer their questions too,” he said.

Dr Mahathir is well known for his adroit handling of the media, a good example of which may be seen in his 2008 appearance on BBC News’ “Hard Talk with Stephen Sackur”.

“People waited for his press conferences. The media know they will get good stories with news value.

“Dr Mahathir’s boldness is one of the reasons he still has the media’s attention,” he said.

Zainuddin also praised Malaysia’s first prime minister the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, who gave press conferences every Wednesday when the cabinet met.

The tradition was however discontinued when Abdul Razak Hussein took over as prime minister, he said.

“Reporters used to wait, excited at the news they would get from Tunku. But after Razak took over, reporters could not ask questions anymore,” he said. – October 29, 2017.