Snapshots of "progress" in the press

As expected, there has been an avalanche of political advertisements in the mainstream press as polling day nears. On page 26 of The Star yesterday (18 March), there is a full-page ad showing a picture of the famous Twin-Towers, sky-scrapers and other buildings that are supposed to symbolise Malaysia's socio-economic achievements under the 47-year rule of the incumbent BN party.

Above the picture screams the title, “47 years of Stability and Progress”, a theme that is by now familiar to almost all Malaysians who have been reading and watching the mainstream media. Once again, the underlying message is that Malaysians will only be able to enjoy this economic growth and political stability if they vote for the BN, not the supposedly troublesome opposing parties.

Another set of political advertisements traces the political and socio-economic achievements that the country is said to have enjoyed since obtaining independence from the British in 1957. The ad says, “When you go to the polls on March 21, Remember 47 years of Malaysian achievements”.

Hammering in the theme

These pictures of political and socio-economic progress are indeed tangible things that can catch the eye of the voters – as opposed to the intangibles such as press freedom, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful assembly that the country lacks since 1957. Indeed, these are some of the intangible things that have been conveniently omitted or pushed aside in these snapshots of achievements.

This theme (of stability and progress) has been hammered in so often during the election campaign period that politicians of the incumbent BN, including the acting president of BN Abdullah Badawi, no longer need to utter the words, “vote for BN”. All they need to say is vote for “stability and progress”. This is because the theme is spun in the media in such a way that "stability and progress" is seen to be closely associated with the BN – even though this may not be necessarily true if we care to look into our recent past.