Why the Malaysian media clamor over Tekong?
Why the Malaysian media clamor over Tekong?
Lee Kim Chew , The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore
The Malay evening news on Malaysia's widely-watched TV1 on
April 8 aired a report on Pulau Tekong's land reclamation with
ominous overtones.
The project was "testing the spirit of friendship between
Malaysia and Singapore", the presenter said.
"What is evident is that Singapore's move, described as not
respecting its neighbor, has created a feeling of uneasiness on
the part of the Malaysian government and its people."
TV1 reporter Zulkifli Bujang chipped in: "Although there is a
feeling of family ties between the people of the two countries,
the people of Johor are especially beginning to be fed up with
the attitude of Singapore, which frequently creates problems in
neighborly ties.
Zulkifli concluded: "However, some said that Singapore should
be taught a lesson for its arrogance, because every time a
conflict occurs, Malaysia becomes the victim and is forced to
give way."
The report encapsulated the essence of the Malaysian press in
recent weeks, with what can be only described as a news assault
on the public, in print and on air, about the adverse effects of
Pulau Tekong's reclamation.
Malaysians were told in no uncertain terms that it would be a
shipping hazard, pollute the waters, deprive fishermen of their
livelihood, and cause flooding and ecological damage in Johor.
What discomfited Singapore leaders was the torrent of slanted
and inaccurate reports which left no one in any doubt that the
Republic was undermining Johor's development.
This newspaper published on March 30 a report with graphics
which explained why the reclamation will not affect the shipping
lanes, narrow the channel, change the boundary or affect the
water quality in the Johor Strait.
The report, written after extensive checks with government
agencies such as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and
shipping sources, was by far the most detailed, and it showed
that Malaysia's fears were unfounded.
But not a word of this report appeared in the Malaysian press.
Datuk Zainuddin Mydin, parliamentary secretary in Malaysia's
Information Ministry, said Malaysian newspapers sometimes
disregard a report that reflected Singapore's views.
Datuk Ahmad Rejal Arbee, editor of Malaysia's Berita Harian,
said his newspaper did not carry the Singapore maritime
authority's explanation because he was unaware of it.
Why the sudden clamor over Pulau Tekong's reclamation when the
project had been going on for several years now?
The most plausible cause is Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's
unhappiness over the price of raw water that Malaysia sells to
the Republic under the existing agreements. Negotiations over the
price are still in progress.
Reacting to criticism by Singapore law-makers, New Straits
Times (NST) writer Rozi Ali wrote: "In trying to digest
Singapore's assaults on the Malaysian media, the pertinent
questions are: Did the media pander to the prejudices of its
readers and create a hype of its own? And did the media coverage
imperil ties?"
Going by the reactions of the Malaysian public, it certainly
did. Like when it aroused anti-Singapore sentiments by failing to
publish Singapore's side of the story. Or when it misreported
that Singapore is profiteering from the sale of water it gets
from Johor.
Has Malaysia's media done a disservice to Malaysians with one-
sided, inaccurate reporting?
Not the first time last month, the Singapore government wrote
to NST to rebut allegations in an article it published that Malay
Singaporeans were an underclass. The newspaper omitted a crucial
paragraph when it published the letter.
By doing this, the Singapore government said NST changed the
thrust of its response and withheld information from readers
about the progress made by Malay Singaporeans.
Pulau Tekong's reclamation is not the only instance of biased
reporting in the Malaysian media. Another notable case was its
coverage of the dispute over the location of Malaysia's customs,
immigration and quarantine (CIQ) checkpoint some years ago.
Malaysian news reports at that time omitted critical facts --
that Malaysia was given ample time to move its CIQ out of Tanjong
Pagar but Kuala Lumpur refused to budge, and that the dispute
arose because Dr Mahathir wanted to alter the Points of Agreement
on the use of Malayan Railway land in Singapore.
As a result, Malaysians were left with the wrong impression
that Singapore was unreasonable and recalcitrant.
This is not only dangerous but also a "lose-lose" proposition.
It will force both sides to dig in and fortify their
positions. This makes it even harder to resolve the outstanding
issues.