Charter 2000 - Aliran Media Statement
No Place Under The Sun For Independent Journalism?
Charter 2000 (A Malaysian citizens' media initiative) views with deep concern the recent sacking of some 40 journalists and other employees by the English-language daily tabloid, The Sun.
The abrupt sacking of such a large number of journalists is disturbing. Among those sacked were those who were promiment in expressing their displeasure over the suspension of several key editorial staff (following a controversial Christmas Day front-page story "Plot to Kill PM") and the delay in paying out staff bonuses.
To us, it appears that these journalists have been victimised for having plucked up the courage to picket and protest against the management.
The Sun is third in terms of circulation among the English-language dailies, behind The Star and the New Straits Times. Unlike The Star and the NST, both of which are linked to ruling coalition parties, The Sun is owned by a firm controlled by a well-connected tycoon. Though all three are considered mainstream, The Sun had presented a relatively broader range of views and reported extensively on a factional split within a party in the ruling coalition.
The management's high-handed action will be seen as a warning to other journalists that they will have to pay a high price should they decide to cross the line. Perhaps this development should also be seen in the light of the authorities' "toe-the-line-or-else" policy towards civil servants.
But whatever the reason may be for this high-handed action, sacking journalists en masse is not the way to go about it. In fact, it is counterproductive and may even seal the newspaper's fate.
A newspaper can only build credibility if it reports accurately and fairly while presenting a broad range of views, including dissenting opinions. Credibility cannot be achieved overnight; it takes years of painstaking work to build. Cosmetic changes or the hiring of journalists whose principles are "flexible" cannot improve the credibility of news reporting.
With this sorry episode, the fate of mainstream media freedom in Malaysia is almost sealed. The saga of The Sun shows that even remotely independent journalism in the mainstream media cannot be tolerated - and therefore cannot survive - in Malaysia.
The sacking of so many journalists should be of utmost concern not only to the National Union of Journalists and other journalists but also to all freedom-loving Malaysians who cherish the right to freedom of information.
Meanwhile, the prospects for the "new" Sun look far from rosy. Indeed, the daily could well find that there is no more room under the sun for yet another mainstream newspaper spouting the official line.
Dr Mustafa Anuar and Anil Netto
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