Utusan uses bold headlines to bash Pas, DAP

Opposition parties received increased coverage in Utusan Malaysia yesterday, 19 February, due to their supposed internal “crisis”. The coverage of DAP, Pas and KeAdilan combined stood at 39 per cent of total news on the general election, for the BN, it stood at 47 per cent. Close to 80 per cent, or 36 items, of the total news under the Dalam Negeri section was about the election. In the editorial section, seven out of the total of nine articles also discussed the election.

The paper hit out at the opposition with four items on the DAP's internal problem following the withdrawal of Fong Po Kuan from the Batu Gajah seat, as seen through the bold headlines: DAP alami konflik dalaman serius, Ahli DAP bantah Karpal, Guan Eng, tanding di Bagan, Kit Siang nafi paksa Fong ke kawasan lain and DAP tambah retak - Boon Poh pula tarik diri.

The first story was based solely on Umno deputy president, Najib Tun Razak's commentary, something which was not reflected in the headline. In Boon Poh pula tarik diri, the lead painted a crumbling DAP:

“Selepas menerima kejutan berikutan pengunduran ahli parlimen Batu Gajah, Fong Po Kuan semalam, DAP semakin goyah menjelang pilihan raya umum 8 Mac ini apabila seorang lagi anggotanya mengancam untuk menarik diri”.

Even former health minister Chua Soi Lek's sex DVD scandal did not reach the same sense of crisis as that reflected in the paper's portrayal of the DAP.

The selection of stories on Pas were deliberate in response to the comments by adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat, described as inconsistent and un-Islamic. On page 3, Nik Aziz was given a top snippet titled Nik Aziz dan orang utan which carried his various quotes dating back to 1999. Criticism of Pas was also the subject of an “analysis”- Semalam cakap lain, esok cakap lain. Pas was also said to have disregarded its party members when it accepted the former Umno division chief, Ibrahim Ali into its fold as candidate for Pasir Mas. Underneath the teaser Lompat si katak lompat were two stories, Sanggup ubah pendirian and Rela ketepikan perasaan ahli.

Pas-bashing was more subtle on its front page report on Pas president Abdul Hadi Awang, who promised public assemblies would be allowed if the opposition won. But the terminology used demonstrasi jalanan (street demonstration) - given recent BN propaganda - gave the impression that Pas supported illegal and violent ways to defend democracy.

Out of the 17 items on BN, 11 were on seat allocations and candidacy. The news items were supplemented with six pro-BN editorials in the editorial page: two on developments achieved under BN, two on ways BN should approach new and young voters, one on “advice” for those in the BN not nominated, and one poking fun at the Pas leadership. One more column defended the Election Commission from its recent critics - Bersih, opposition parties and bloggers- the same position been taken by the BN government, in a lengthy piece (59 paragraphs) quoting Commission secretary Kamaruzzaman Mohd Noor from a media briefing yesterday.