By T K Chua

Malaysian journalists must be the most idiotic lot if the number of false news items, inaccurate reporting and misquotes are to be used as a gauge. There are just too many investigations being carried out on journalists for sensationalising the news and for inciting readers.

My logic tells me that this is simply not possible unless one of the following is prevalent:

(i) Our reporters are poor listeners unable to comprehend what is being conveyed;

(ii) Our reporters have evil intentions – they deliberately spin the messages of politicians due to partisan reasons;

(iii) Many politicians are incoherent and unable to express themselves clearly;

(iv) Many politicians are like loose cannons only to regret later when reality hits them;

(v) There is no confusion and false reporting – politicians simply love to bully others and prefer the shortest, easiest way to crawl out of the holes they dig for themselves.

Let’s ask some “normal” questions. Is it normal for Malaysian reporters to be poor listeners or weak in language? I would assume that most reporters are above average in listening and language ability when compared to other Malaysians.

How about some reporters indulging in partisan reporting by deliberately twisting the words of politicians? I must say this is possible but unlikely to happen on a regular basis. If there are such attempts, I think the mischief could be easier determined and the culprits punished. Surely the other reporters present would be able to confirm or deny the essence and the content of the news item allegedly being misconstrued and thereby misreported. Surely there are tape recordings of news items that can be relied on for verification.

How about politicians unable to speak clearly in order to make themselves understood? Based on my personal observations, there are in fact many politicians who are like that. If due to their own weaknesses which result in misconstrued messages, I guess there is no one else to blame except themselves. Next time, they should learn to speak unequivocally and unambiguously.

Then, there are politicians who love to play to the gallery in the presence of a partisan crowd. They get excited and start saying things they are not supposed to say. Later, instead of apologising, they find the easiest way out – by blaming reporters who have apparently misquoted, misunderstood and misinterpreted the essence of their messages.

Again, I think it is not difficult to verify if truth is what we are seeking for.

T K Chua is an FMT reader.

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