MCA's latest move at 988 is seen as a ploy to keep DVD Chua in power!

MCA's latest move at 988 is seen as a ploy to keep DVD Chua in power!

Time for you to go DVD Chua !

More 988 staff frozen: Scapegoats as MCA appeases Umno

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

UPDATED In a move that is bound to compound ultimate owner MCA’s woes, its unit Star RFM has suspended two top executives from radio-station 988 after industry regulator MCMC complained one of its programs was threatening "national security" and "compromising race relations".

Already rejected by the Chinese community for consistently bowing to high-handed political pressure, the MCA's latest move at 988 is seen as part of a major media clampdown ahead of the general elections widely expected in the latter half of 2011.

It is also seen as another cop-out by the Chinese party to appease coalition boss Umno after president Chua Soi Lek stepped on toes including those of Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin over a proposal about the 30-percent Bumiputra equity target.

"What is happening at 988 is not an isolated incident. It is part of a trend which began a while ago. One of the first to be axed was a very popular political discussion on Astro's 301. Then there were similar moves at RTM and NTV7," Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tsin told Malaysia Chronicle.

"And the worse thing is our civil rights are being ruthlessly played with. They are being sacrificed because Umno and BN have no confidence of being able to win against Pakatan Rakyat on a level playing field. From TV to opposition newspapers to radio, mark my words, the Internet will be next!"

Mark my words, the Internet will be next!

In a statement issued late on Thursday, Star RFM s chairman Linda Ngiam said the firm was conducting internal investigations into events that led to a 988 radio host Jamaluddin Ibrahim being sacked on Thursday.

She also said the probe would cover how the matter was handled by the staff in charge of the station.

"I can confirm the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had issued a letter dated Aug 18 to 988, regarding certain contents aired over the radio station that it deemed to be offensive,” said Linda.

However, Linda failed to mention that chief executive officer Wong Lai Ngo and senior program manager Chen Jia Rong had also been suspended the same evening. According to reliable sources, both have been frozen pending the internal probe.

Purpose of MCA - is it to protect Chinese rights or to keep Chua in power

Jamaluddin is the son of a famous Malay freedom fighter from the colonial days, Shamsiah Fakeh. His Zhao Dian Shuo Ma or Say Hi to Malaysia show is very popular with the Chinese-speaking crowd, who enjoy the discussions on current issues and regular phone-in sessions. Jamaluddin was born in Beijing and speaks fluent Chinese. He is also a regular contributor to Chinese-language newspapers and magazines.

Since then two other deejays, who announced his removal on air on Thursday and commiserated with his plight, have also been removed.

News of Jamaluddin’s persecution and the government’s high-handed action has stirred a new groundswell of anger and frustration from Malaysians, disgusted at the way their rights have been constantly eroded by the BN government.

Prime Minister Najib Razak is perceived as being anxious to cling to power at all costs. Neither he nor his Umno colleagues have displayed any qualms about turning the country into a police state to check the advance of the political opposition.

“It is pitiful for the MCA to make scapegoats of the 988 staff. It also is clear that the new MCA top leadership under Chua Soi Lek has launched a purge and is now tightening its control over all the media owned by the party," Batu MP Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

"The thing is, is this what MCA members really want? Most of them are fans of the station and it is time they challenged him for abusing the purpose of what MCA was set up to be - to look after the rights of the Chinese community or to keep him ( the DVD actor ) and his son in power."