Ex-988 Jamal's unkindest cut to the Chinese media

Ex-988 Jamal's unkindest cut to the Chinese media

Kuik Cheng Kang

The "Say Hi to Malaysia" radio talk show of 98.8FM recently came under the scrutiny of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), resulting in the sacking of DJ Jamaluddin Ibrahim, chief executive officer Wong Lai Ngo and senior programme manager Tan Chia Yong by the station.

Jamaluddin and his supporters then launched a series of talks on “A look into press sovereignty from Jamal's removal”. The talks should have been on the government intervention in press freedom, but, instead, they turned out to be a smear campaign on the reputation of Sin Chew Daily and other Chinese newspapers in the country.

Jamal and company have accused the Chinese newspapers published under the Media Chinese International Limited (MCIL) group of blacking out news on their talks.

The 98.8FM incident is so obviously a continuation of the MCA crisis, and those involved in political infighting should know that no one is indispensable and invincible, and some will be casualties.

During factional conflicts, certain quarters would exploit the media to their advantage, and it is the responsibility of the media not to fall prey to their game. So, a responsible newspaper would handle news of such crisis in a rational, objective and impartial manner.

Soi Lek wanted Jamal out because of Tee Keat link?

Moreover, there are numerous talks and other events organized by political parties, community associations, religious bodies, schools, etc, and if the Chinese newspapers are to cover all these events, they may need more than 100 pages just for them. Hence, there is the need for selective reporting. Isn't this what Jamal and his supporters have vowed to defend and fight for?

According to what Jamal and his friends said in the talks, the Chinese newspapers not giving their cause prominent coverage are more sinful than the MCMC that took actions against the radio station and restricted the freedom of speech. In a forum on "Malays Are Muted Too," Jamal lashed out at the Chinese newspapers published under the MCIL group.

Jamal alleged that the MCIL is trying to dictate the thinking of the Chinese community by creating some discontent, and arousing their dissatisfaction towards the Malay community.

Such unjustified malicious verbal assaults by Jamal et al are a gross disrespect for Chinese community leaders.

As the mouthpiece of the Chinese community in Malaysia, the news content of Chinese newspapers is focused mainly on the statements by leaders of Chinese associations, political parties, religious bodies, and Chinese thinkers.

The dissatisfaction they have voiced in the Chinese newspapers is aimed at getting the attention of the authorities or evaluating government policies, not to "create dissatisfaction among the Chinese towards the Malays."

Two days ago, I was told by an insider that some senior Umno leaders were furious over some news reports and editorials carried in the Chinese newspapers, in particular the Sin Chew Daily. They inferred that the Sin Chew Daily was hostile towards Umno.

Although I have tried not to believe it, it simply reminds me of what I used to hear in the past, that Jamal seems to have a special agenda.

I also remember what Jamal once said in his "Say Hi to Malaysia" programme that Chinese Malaysians should send their children to national schools as a means to promote national unity, which I regret to say the Sin Chew Daily is strongly opposed to.

No wonder Jamal would lament that “it is very unfortunate for the Chinese community to have such a media organisation."

Veteran journalist Zhang Muqin has done an in-depth analysis on Jamal's personality and what he did. Let me to quote some excerpts from his writing:

"We have had no freedom of speech for a few days now. The 98.8FM incident has been blown up from the virtual world to the real world. In the town, we saw the flash mob turn the newspapers upside down to protest a ‘muffled’ Malaysia.

"This serves to tell the world that there is only one voice in the whole of Malaysia, that of Encik Jamal and none else. When a DJ is silenced, all voices are quelled. Before he was asked to take leave, it used to be a world of flourishing opinions. He used to write a series of articles on Chinese culture which genuine Chinese scholars rebuked as nonsense. He didn't even have the gut to respond to them.

"But now he calls himself the champion of speech freedom! As a matter of fact, no one can stay in power forever, be it an office-bearer in a partisan corporation or the government. We have seen a lot of such instances in our midst. Isn't the Utusan like this? Or NST? Or The Star? But why is the 98.8FM thing blown up to such proportion?

"If a person rises to power because of some unseen forces behind, he should also get ready to call it a day when such forces are waning. If he claims the "evil forces" have been behind his departure, I would like to know what kind of forces brought him to power back then?

"It is reasonable to assume that the person in question is under tremendous stress, but then even the writers now begin to feel the pressure.

"I myself get confused. The reason is this issue has been abused as a tool to advance their political motives, and once politics has a hand in it, it will be difficult for anyone to speak up.

"This is another form of pressure outside the evil laws, which like the atmosphere is invisible, but is omnipresent and heavy.

"This is perhaps what people call speech hegemony. He who commands such hegemony is insurmountable.

"Such a force is called 'right of speech.' Only what I say counts, not yours. Isn't this another evil force outside the evil laws?

"Do you feel that a 'more valuable thing than morality' in our society at this very juncture is 'anti-BN'?

"While morality is good, there is something even better, that is to topple the BN. Toppling the BN is a political motive, not morality, but it has a much higher value than morality.

"As such, even though that Jamal is no God of Speech Freedom, his incident could be manipulated to wipe out the MCA, or the BN for that matter. So, it doesn't really matter that he openly defiles his colleagues in the media industry, and it doesn't also matter that he trashes Chinese education.

"Are we not on our way to a world that is occupied by political objectives but no moral values?"

I cannot claim to be a very knowledgeable person, and I lack Jamal's eloquence that can paint anything black into white. All I can do is quote a senior journalist to illustrate my points.

P.S.: As journalists, we are firmly against evil laws that attempt to clamp on press freedom, and this is a different thing altogether from whether we support or not support Jamal. - Sinchew

Read more at http://www.mysinchew.com/node/44841?tid=14

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Jamal's chequered ties with Chua

Aidila Razak
Aug 24, 10
1:04pm

EXCLUSIVE Never mind that Ibrahim Ali-led Perkasa wants MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek put away under the Internal Security Act.

As far as suspended 988.fm radio disc jockey Jamaluddin Ibrahim is concerned, the Pasir Mas MP and Chua (left) are just two sides of the same coin.

In fact the MCA man is even worse, he caustically said during an interview with Malaysiakini yesterday.

"At least Ibrahim Ali does not touch on issues of religion," he said, still smarting over Chua's statement which reminded the deejay, a Muslim, to act appropriately in the holy month of Ramadan.

Chua had said this in response to a misreport by online news portal Merdeka Review which claimed that Jamal had met the former five times.

The portal has since issued an apology to both parties, but Chua has refused to say sorry for commenting on the deejay's religion.

In the same statement, Chua had denied having a hand in Jamal's suspension from the MCA-owned radio station on Aug 19, after the station received a letter from the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

In the letter, he was said to be "threatening national security" and "compromising race relationships" during an interview with columnist Ouyang Wen Feng on the Hi Malaysia talk-show on Aug 13.

The radio station's chief executive officer Wong Lai Ngo and senior programme manager Tan Chia Yong, although not mentioned in the MCMC letter, were later also suspended.

The station's immediate owner Star RFM's chairperson Linda Ngiam (left) said the suspensions were not politically-motivated and were management decisions.

'Chua used to call me si fu'

According to the Beijing-educated deejay, his relationship with Chua was not always this rocky, and had only turned sour when the latter became MCA president.

"He called me si fu (master) before he became (party) president...but now he never even smiles at me. Very serious.

"(But I know) he was only nice to me so that I wouldn't criticise him too much" said the current affairs breakfast show host.

This is hardly surprising, considering the fact that the deejay had taken a rather staunch position against Chua in the long drawn-out MCA leadership crisis.

Jamal was, however, decidedly coy when quizzed about his allegiance to Chua's rival and former MCA president Ong Tee Keat.

"I can be labeled as a supporter of Ong, but you really don't know whether I am a real supporter or not," he said.

Be that as it may, Jamal's hard-line stance on the current affairs breakfast show was said to have 'forced' his co-host Koh Kok Wee (right) to huddle in Chua's corner.

Koh's apparent efforts to balance out the show was said to not endear him to the then-party president and cost him his co-host post when he was later taken off the air.

For Jamal, however, what happened to his colleague, who "is still a friend", was not politically-motivated even though Koh "really does not like Ong".

"If you want to argue every time during the programme, it will be quite noisy. So the management made a decision to make (Koh return to his position) chief editor. They never fired or suspended him.

"If (Koh was removed) by Ong and I was (removed) by Chua, then who removed our CEO?... (In Ong's time) I didn't feel any interference," he said.

It was the same assurance of media freedom which Jamal thought he had obtained from the new president when he met the new president on May 3.

Blackout from Chinese-language press

This is despite his self-confessed direct attacks on the MCA president's standing following the split in the party.

"(I told him) you are not a very strong president. You only got 901 votes. Now you are the president but if Ong Ka Ting and Ong Tee Keat had combined, you would have lost.

"(But) he promised many times that he does not want to interfere with radio and press freedom affairs. I hope he can keep his word, but people can find out at a later stage. There is a lot of truth to prove what he has done," he said.

While he neither revealed the "proof" nor directly named Chua and MCA as the culprits in the 988.fm fiasco, Jamal's disappointment with the party president is evident.

Likewise, he felt let down by his colleagues in the Chinese-language newspapers, who have apparently blacked out his side of the story and given prominence to Chua instead.

"I am very confused and sad (because) the Chinese media - Sin Chew Jit Poh, Nanyang Siang Pau, China Press - did not want to publish my statement. Not a single word.

"They gave a lot of space to Chua. When you compare Jamal and Chua, I think they hate me more," he said.

Despite his less-than-friendly opinion of the MCA president, Jamal is open and even hopeful of returning to helm the popular show.

It is the same logic which he employed when deciding to join the party-owned station, despite his heavy criticism of MCA.

"This is only a platform for you to make comments. If I can have such a platform to communicate with my audience, why not?

"You should read the comments left on my Facebook page. Millions feel that their minds have been changed by listening to (Hi Malaysia). It's a huge influence, they never had this kind of programme," he said.

Suspended DJ Jamal: It's a political conspiracy

Aidila Razak
Aug 23, 10
5:41pm

EXCLUSIVE Whatever MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek's explanation, suspended radio DJ Jamaluddin Ibrahim is unimpressed.

In fact, he said, Chua's claim that the decision to suspend him was a “management issue” only proves that it is part of some sort of “political conspiracy”.

“If you say it is not good for 988.fm's revenue and you want to change management, fine. That is fair. If the programme is not successful, you want to make it better, it's fair,” he said.

“But what has (988's immediate owner) Star RFM (Sdn Bhd) gained from this? They lost their audience, they lost revenue.

“The only thing 'they' gained is political mileage. 'Their' motive is to kill off the programme. It's very clear that 'they' don't want people to discuss current issues…for people to be woken up.”

But Jamaluddin, in an exclusive interview this morning, refused to speculate on who 'they' are.

The deejay popularly known as Jamal was suspended indefinitely from Aug 19, when the station received a warning letter from the Malaysian Multimedia and Communication Commission (MCMC).

In the letter, he was said to be “threatening to national security” and "compromising race relationships” during an interview with columnist Ouyang Wen Feng on the Hi Malaysia talk-show on Aug 13.

Chief executive officer Wong Lai Ngo and senior programme manager Tan Chia Yong, although not mentioned in the MCMC letter, were later also suspended, further strengthening Jamal's suspicions.

MCMC taken by surprise

The letter is by far the harshest warning the show has received from the commission since it went on air in May 2009, said Jamal, who was educated in Beijing and speaks fluent Mandarin.

In previous 'coffee' sessions with MCMC, the station had been verbally warned against using the word 'communist', he said.

Jamal is the son of Communist Party of Malaya activists, the late Shamsiah Fakeh (left) and Ibrahim Mohamad. He returned to Malaysia with his parents in 1994 after 10 years of waiting for permission from the government.

He said the MCMC also took issue when the show invited opposition party leaders to speak, or did not censor the harsh criticism from listeners who called in.

“I was told there is a certain person whose task is only to record, listen to and translate the programme, find out if there are certain 'problematic' points and to report to MCMC,” he said.

But according to the deejay, even the commission, which had apparently put the show on its radar, did not anticipate the multiple suspensions.

“The (MCMC) officer was surprised. (He said,) 'How? We just issued a normal warning letter',” said Jamal.

“'They' just want MCMC to issue the letter so 'they' can take action. This is the drama. The script has already been done, just need to (act it out).”

It is precisely this sort of 'shadow-play' that infuriates Jamal, who had publicly backed Ong Tee Keat (right) in the prolonged MCA leadership crisis.

Realistically, he had expected to be asked to leave after Ong lost in the presidential election but in a manner that is more up-front and gentlemanly.

“If Chua (had said), 'This is a political decision, I want you to leave' then I would not mind, meaning I won't be able to do anything about it…(Instead now) they do not want to bear responsibility,” he said.

Prohibited words

Despite a 10-hour meeting with MCMC, Jamal said he is still in the dark as to what he did wrong.

“(MCMC) just chose words out of the conversation, but not the context. Words like 'racism' and 'racial politics'. They only chose sentences where such words appear.

“Whether or not you are satisfied with the translation, if you admit that such words come out of your mouth, then you've made the mistake.”

Interestingly, he said, he knows of no actual list of 'prohibited words' passed to radio DJs.

“If there is a list, then news or current affairs programme cannot (take place) at all. All these words cannot be used - like racism, homosexual, comrade, communist - …maybe there's a lot, we don't know.

“It means everybody is making mistakes every day at every moment, but if 'they' don't like you, 'they' (find) you guilty.”

While he denies that the claims of conspiracy are part of a ploy to allow him to return to air a hero, the response he has received so far suggests otherwise.

The station received about 3,900 text-messages from listeners pledging their support on the first morning that he did not helm the show.

In fact, strong audience support was supposed to be the gauge for the management to decide whether or not to let him stay.

Jamal said Wong had asked him to go on leave in a bid to appease the MCMC, but planned to take him back depending on the support he receives from the audience.

But with the top officer's job now also on the line, the future of Hi Malaysia remains in limbo, despite Jamal's high hopes.

Tomorrow: Jamal's chequered ties with Chua

988 fiasco: DVD Chua refuses to apologize, silent on media freedom

988 fiasco: DVD Chua refuses to apologize, silent on media freedom

Malaysia Chronicle

Embattled MCA president Chua Soi Lek ducked criticism he was interfering with media freedom, choosing to deflect attention on suspended 988 talk show host Jamaluddin Ibrahim - warning him not to sensationalize Islam for his own self interest.

“When Jamaluddin started talking, I was just reminding him. It was nothing excessive. I hope he will not abuse what he thinks he can abuse for his own self interest,” Chua told reporters on Monday.

The scandal-plagued MCA president also refused to apologize to Jamaluddin, who had demanded that Chua did so for suggesting he was not a good Muslim, especially when it is now Ramadan, over an erroneous news report. An online news portal had mistakenly reported that Jamaluddin as saying he met Chua five times this year.

Jamaluddin had also rapped Chua for trying to turn the issue, which he said was about the freedom of the press, into a racial and religious one.

"Chua has openly made a religiously discriminatory remark. I hope he can clarify and apologise," Jamaluddin said in a statement issued on Saturday.

"As Chua had clarified earlier, I have met him once in his office on May 3 this year. In the 45-minute meeting, Chua had promised at least five times that he won't interfere in the radio's affairs and would respect press freedom. I hope he can keep his promise and I thank him for his clarification to the media."

Hypocrisyand passing the buck

Jamaluddin and his colleagues at the radio station owned by MCA unit Star RFM were suspended by their employers after industry regulator complained that his popular Say Hi to Malaysia show was “threatening national security" and "compromising race relations".

Amid accusations that the MCA was making scapegoats of Jamaluddin and his colleagues to appease an Umno upset because words like “racial politics” and “racism” had been used in the show, Chua threw the hot potato over to the Star’s management board.

But political pundits were unconvinced and slammed his hypocrisy, questioning if it was true, he and MCA did not interfere with the management of the Star and its units, then why did he meet Jamaluddin in the first place?

They also pointed that among the first things that Chua did when he won the MCA presidency earlier this year was to install his own loyalists on the Star’s board of directors, namely, Kuah Hun Liang as non-executive chairman, Lee Siang Chin and Vincent Lee Fook Long as non-independent directors.

“Is MCMC saying there is no such thing as racism in Malaysia and there is also no racial politics in this country? If they believe it, they must be blind. But why is Chua and MCA perpetuating these sort of lies when it is unhealthy and works against the interest of their community? Are they trying to keep the Chinese dumb and un-knowledgeable. Is this what they are supposed to do?" an MCA watcher told Malaysia Chronicle.

Meanwhile, the controversial Chua insisted that he maintains a hands-off policy on the MCA’s sprawling media interests.

“I do not even know how much money Star makes. We do not disturb, especially me. I never get involved. We do not touch 988, and I do not know what is happening. All I know is that the company (988 radio station) is having a problem with the MCMC. And the one who is dealing with the MCMC is the Star management, not the MCA,” said Chua.

Soi Lek ( DVD fame ) rapped for turning press freedom issue into religious one

Soi Lek ( DVD fame ) rapped for turning press freedom issue into religious one

Malaysia Chronicle

Radio talk show host Jamaluddin Ibrahim has demanded an apology from MCA president Chua Soi Lek for suggesting he was not a good Muslim for having said he met Chua 5 times before.

Jamaluddin also rapped Chua for trying to turn the issue, which he said was about the freedom of the press, into a racial and religious one.

"Chua has openly made a religiously discriminatory remark. I hope he can clarify and apologise," Jamaluddin said in a statement issued on Saturday.

"As Chua had clarified earlier, I have met him once in his office on May 3 this year. In the 45-minute meeting, Chua had promised at least five times that he won't interfere in the radio's affairs and would respect press freedom. I hope he can keep his promise and I thank him for his clarification to the media."

The error came about after an online news portal reported that Jamaluddin met Chua five times before. The portal has since clarified its report after Jamaluddin called up.

Chua, MCA copping out on civil rights

But pundits say the number of times that Chua met Jamaluddin was a small detail. They accused Chua of pouncing on it to deflect criticism that he and MCA had sacrificed the radio-show, which is enjoyed by a million-strong audience, just to toe the Umno and BN line.

“The point is that MCMC under orders from the BN government tried to curtail freedom of expression in Jamaluddin's talk-show. By doing that, they are actually trying to denying his audience which is mostly the Chinese community of their civil rights to participate in discussions on current issues," an MCA watcher told Malaysia Chronicle.

"And even if words like racism and racial politics were used in the show as it has been reported in the media, what is wrong? Is MCMC saying there is no such thing as racism in Malaysia and there is also no racial politics in this country? If they believe it, they must be blind. But why is Chua and MCA perpetuating these sort of lies when it is unhealthy and works against the interest of their community? Are they trying to keep the Chinese dumb and un-knowledgeable. Is this what they are supposed to do?"

Racial and religious overtones

The son of Malaysian freedom fighters Shamsiah Fakeh and Ibrahim Mohammed, Jamaluddin was born in Beijing and speaks fluent Mandarin. 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 asked to go on indefinite leave and several of his colleagues suspended after industry regulator Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission wrote a complaint letter to his bosses that the Hi Malaysia program was suspected of "threatening national security" and "compromising race relations". Jamaluddin’s 988 channel is owned by Star RFM, which is in turn controlled by the MCA.

Under fire for making Jamaluddin and his colleagues scapegoats to appease the Umno-dominated BN, Chua held a press conference on Friday and chastised Jamaluddin for making “misleading” allegations. Chua also reminded Jamaluddin of his Muslim responsibilities.

“Jamaluddin, as a Muslim, should be more responsible and not make misleading and wrongful statements, particularly in this holy month of Ramadan,” Malaysian Insider reported Chua as saying.

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In 988, DVD Chua takes MCA down in suppressing M'sian civil rights

In 988, DVD Chua takes MCA down in suppressing M'sian civil rights

Same story as Jimmy Chua's Datukships ! DVD definety has his hands in the shit plot !

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Even before the dust settles on his party’s row with Umno, MCA president Chua Soi Lek has landed in a new scrape and this time he cannot hide his true colors anymore.

In his handling of the 988 fiasco, where the popular Chinese radio station was practically shut down after complaints by industry regulator MCMC, pundits say it is clear Chua has opted to toe the BN line despite his promises to do what is right by the community.

“When it comes to the 30 percent Bumiputera equity, Chua can talk as daring as he likes because he knows Umno will counter and the final decision will never be made by him anyway but by Umno,” PKR vice president Lee Boon Chye told Malaysia Chronicle.

“But when it comes to 988, which is owned by MCA, he can no longer just talk. He has to take action, he has to respond because there is a letter from the MCMC. Then you can see his true colours - by his actions. Straightaway, he sacrifices Chinese interest and also tries to put the blame on the staff at the station.”

On Friday, amid public outcry, Chua said MCA has never interfered in Star RFM, which owns the 988 station. However, MCA watchers immediately shot down his explanation, pointing out that Star RFM is in turn owned by public-listed Star Publications, which also manages flagship daily The Star.

“Chua must think the Chinese are stupid. Who are the largest shareholders in Star Publications, is it not MCA and its related units? Is Chua also saying MCA never interferes in the editorial policy of the Star? He is not only being hypocritical but he is insulting our intelligence,” an MCA member told Malaysia Chronicle.

As public anger grows over 988's shut-down and the suspension of its key deejays, there is also speculation that Chua was victimizing top talk-show host Jamaluddin Ibrahim, who is believed to be a supporter of his predecessor Ong Tee Keat.

Crime against Malaysian human rights

But mostly, the move is seen as part of a BN clampdown on the media ahead of the Sarawak state elections expected in October/November and general elections forecast for the latter half of next year.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has since explained it was not responsible for the removal of the 988 staff, but was merely investigating the station for allegedly breaching licence conditions following “several complaints’ on the morning program hosted by Jamaluddin.

But it did not say how many complaints were received, or give any indication as to who the complainants were. Also, while the MCMC denies it asked for the 988 staff to be sacked, a closer look at the letter it issued to the Star also reveals the pressure it can exert on employers.

“Issues relating to staffing of any licensee is an internal matter within the organisation. The MCMC is unable to comment. Any actions taken by the MCMC will be in accordance with the licence conditions for radio stations and provisions under any relevant laws,” it said.

MCA an accessory

Unsurprisingly, pundits have slammed the MCMC for its high-handed action. They also took Chua to task for back-tracking on his promises and accused him of making MCA an accessory to a crime against Malaysian human rights.

“Malaysians have a right to a more open society where people can freely discuss current issues and problems such as racism, corruption and abuses of power. Is the MCMC, Chua and the BN government saying all these do not exist?” PKR leader and human rights lawyer Gooi Hsiao Leung told Malaysia Chronicle.

“The truth is always painful but it needs to come out and the BN should listen if it is sincere in wanting a better future for all Malaysians. The real threat does not come from spontaneous radio talk shows but from suppression by a corrupt elite who only cares about manipulating the nation for their own interest. By toeing the line in the 988 case, Chua is not only acting against the rights of Malaysians but he is making MCA do the same as well."

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Dr Chua of DVD fame uses Ramadan as sword, shield in DJ’s sacking

By Clara Chooi

August 20, 2010

Dr Chua said the MCA has never interfered in the operations of The Star Publications. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 — Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek today played the religion card to hit back at deejay Jamaluddin Ibrahim for claiming they had met many times before, and issued a biting reminder that this was the holy month of Ramadan.

In denying that the party was to blame for axing Jamaluddin yesterday, the MCA president claimed he had only met with the 98.8 FM radio deejay once on May 3 this year, and even then, it had been at Jamaluddin’s request.

“Such meetings with journalists, whether print or electronic, is part of my duty as the party president. It is not true that I have met him five times as he has claimed,” he said in a statement today.

Dr Chua chastised Jamaluddin for making such “misleading” allegations and reminded the Mandarin-speaking deejay of his Muslim responsibilities.

“Jamaluddin, as a Muslim, should be more responsible and not make misleading and wrongful statements, particularly in this holy month of Ramadan,” he said.

Dr Chua also sought to absolve the party of any involvement in Jamaluddin’s removal from the popular station.

“The MCA has never interfered in the operations of The Star Publications (M) Bhd and its subsidiary, Star Rfm Sdn Bhd which owns the 988 Mandarin radio station.

“The party is fully aware of the status of The Star Publications Bhd as a public listed company and its responsibilities to the shareholders.

“I also believe that the media group should not be used or abused for any individual agenda,” he said.

Dr Chua stressed that as the MCA was not responsible for the decision to remove Jamaluddin, it would not intervene in the case.

“The matter will be fully handled by the management (of the station),” he said.

Jamaluddin, who is the host for the station’s “Hello Malaysia” programme, was told to leave recently for allegedly offending the authorities with racially sensitive remarks.

He was axed following a letter from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to the station on Wednesday, which informed him that the programme was suspected of being a threat to national security and compromising race relations.

Following his removal, Jamaluddin’s colleagues in the station caused a bigger stir yesterday when they wept openly on-air while discussing the issue.

They also turned the programme into a tribute to the popular host, the son of Malaysian freedom fighters the late Shamsiah Fakeh and Ibrahim Mohammed who both lived in exile in China due to their involvement in the Communist Party of Malaya.

Since then, the breakfast programme’s remaining three deejays have also been removed, while its chief executive officer Wong Lai Ngo and senior programme manager Tan Chia Yong were suspended.

It is believed that Jamaluddin’s suspension had stemmed from the invitation of popular columnist Oyoung Wen Feng during last Friday’s programme to speak on issues pertaining to racial discrimination.

It has also been speculated that the MCA was the silent hand behind Jamaluddin’s removal as the deejay was known to be supportive of Dr Chua’s predecessor, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

Ong was recently forced to relinquish his post as MCA president when he lost his bid to retain the seat during the party’s elections in March this year.

It is believed that Jamaluddin has frequently voiced his views during discussions on air and was often in favour of Ong’s leadership.

In a press conference today, Star Rfm chairman Linda Ngiam said that the removal of Jamaluddin and the others were not due to political pressures from the MCA.

She said that the programme would continue without discussions and call-ins from listeners, and would be led by different deejays.

Ngiam said that the MCMC, in its letter, had advised the station to air content that was not too controversial.

She, however, said that it was yet to be determined how the station’s programme had breached MCMC’s guidelines.

But the MCMC says its not involved ! So who is the liar ? My guess that DVD DJ !

MCMC disavows involvement in 98.8FM axings

By Clara Chooi

August 20, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) explained today that it was not responsible for the removal of several individuals from Mandarin radio station 98.8 FM and was merely investigating it for allegedly breaching licence conditions.

In a media statement this evening, the MCMC said its investigations had kicked off following complaints that the station had allegedly aired content that may “upset the sensibilities and sentiments of races in the country”.

“Following several complaints received by MCMC on the morning programme, the radio station, Star Rfm Sdn Bhd (98.8 FM) is being investigated for breach of licence conditions.

Lagi pengacara "dipancung"
...kini giliran stesen radio 98.8

Lim Hong Siang | Aug 19, 2010 05:22:04 pm

Pengacara rancangan call-in "Say Hi to Malaysia" di stesen radio 98.8, Jamaluddin Ibrahim terpaksa "digugurkan" dari rancangan pada hari ini, lantaran daripada "tekanan politik". Jamaluddin diarahkan oleh stesen 98.8 untuk "mengambil cuti" mulai hari ini, dan tarikh tamatnya tempoh cuti ini masih tidak diketahui.

Dengan kata lain, pengacara keturunan Melayu yang terkenal dengan kefasihannya untuk bertutur dalam bahasa Cina ini, terpaksa menyusul jejak langkah pengamal media elektronik sebelum ini, termasuk Joshua Wong, Chou Z Lam dan Tan Ean Nee untuk mengundur diri.

Suara Jamaluddin Ibrahim (gambar kanan) tidak lagi kedengaran dalam rancangan pada pagi ini, yang berlangsung antara jam 8 hingga 10 pagi, dari Isnin ke Jumaat jikalau mengikut kebiasaan. Dua orang pengacara yang lain, Wong Chew Yat dan Joe Liaw gagal menahan sebak ketika mengumumkan bahawa Jamaluddin Ibrahim tidak lagi bersama dengan mereka di udara mulai hari ini.

Berikutan daripada pengumuman tersebut, stesen 98.8 telah dibanjiri dengan ribuan sms, dan deringan panggilan telefon yang tidak henti-henti pada pagi ini. Masing-masing menyatakan ketidakpuasan mereka ekoran daripada "tekanan" yang ditujukan kepada Jamaluddin, sehingga beliau terpaksa digugurkan.

Naik turunnya Jamaluddin

Jamaluddin Ibrahim, muncul sebagai pemerhati politik yang terkemuka di masyarakat Cina selepas "tsunami politik" pada 8 Mac 2008. Rata-rata tertarik dengan kefasihan beliau bertutur dan menulis dalam bahasa Cina, lantas diundang untuk menjadi panelis dalam forum dan kolumnis di media bahasa Cina.

Kemudian, Jamaluddin menjadi tumpuan media bahasa Cina dengan analisanya yang tajam ketika mengulas pemilihan parti MCA pada tahun 2008. Beliau kemudiannya menyertai 98.8, menjadi pengacara untuk mengulas isu hal ehwal semasa dalam rancangan Say Hi to Malaysia, mulai Mei 2009.

Stesen 98.8 merupakan salah satu saluran radio yang dimiliki oleh syarikat Star Rfm Sdn Bhd, anak syarikat kepada Star Publications (M) Bhd. MCA menguasai Star Publications melalui sayap pelaburan parti, iaitu Huaren Holdings.

Bagaimanapun, Jamaluddin mencungkil beberapa pertikaian terutamanya ketika perebutan kuasa antara sekta Ong Tee Keat (gambar kiri, kanan) dengan Chua Soi Lek (gambar kiri, kiri). Beliau dilihat menyebelahi Ong Tee Keat ketika memberi komentar, dan keadaan ini mengundang ketidakpuasan daripada sekta Chua Soi Lek dan Ong Ka Ting.

Justeru itu, selepas Chua Soi Lek terpilih sebagai Presiden MCA baru pada Mac 2010, Jamaluddin menjadi tumpuan ramai - sama ada Chua Soi Lek akan "memancungnya" atau tidak. Chua Soi Lek pernah menegaskan bahawa dirinya tidak akan campur tangan dalam media yang dimiliki MCA, namun pada masa yang sama memberi amaran agar barisan pengamal media yang dilihat sebagai sekta Ong Tee Keat tidak melampau. "Pandai-pandai dan jaga-jagalah", katanya.

Rancangan call-in yang popular

Sementara itu, Say Hi to Malaysia menjadi antara rancangan yang paling popular untuk stesen 98.8, mencatat bilangan audien setinggi 600,000 hingga 700,000 orang, kerana menyediakan pentas untuk pandangan yang lebih kritikal. Biarpun media ini dimiliki MCA, namun pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat turut diberi ruang dalam rancangan ini.

Misalnya, kejadian peniaga Cina cuba membakar diri di KOMTAR sebagai tanda protes terhadap kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang baru-baru ini, rancangan ini telah menemuramah peniaga tersebut melalui telefon, Teoh Bak Seng, disusuli dengan maklum balas Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng. Tidak cukup dengan itu, panelis yang diundang pada hari tersebut juga memberi komen sebagai respon terhadap peristiwa ini.

Bukan itu sahaja, komentar yang diutarakan dalam rancangan ini juga mengungkit rasa tidak senang hati pihak tertentu. Antaranya, pengacara rancangan ini membacakan sms yang dihantar oleh audien, yang kadang-kala mengusik pemimpin-pemimpin dalam kerajaan Barisan Nasional.

Untuk sesetengah audiens, rancangan ini memberi ruang yang lebih seimbang kepada pembangkang jikalau dibandingkan dengan media arus perdana yang lain. Namun, dari kaca mata pihak berkuasa, rancangan sebegini semestinya"tidak seimbang" dan bias terhadap pihak kerajaan.

Dalam surat amaran yang diterima semalam (18 Ogos), Suruhanjaya Multimedia dan Komunikasi Malaysia (MCMC) merujuk kepada rancangan yang berlangsung pada 13 Ogos, membicarakan isu hubungan kaum di negara kita. Tetamu khas pada hari itu, OuYoung adalah warga Malaysia yang duduk di Amerika Syarikat, membandingkan hubungan kaum antara negara kita dengan negara Barat tersebut.

Tekanan daripada MCMC

Biarpun tidak menjelaskan secara terperinci hujah manakah yang melanggar undang-undang, namun stesen 98.8 kini berdepan dengan tekanan dan risiko untuk diambil tindakan di bawah Akta Multimedia dan Komunikasi 1998. Dalam keadaan sebegitu, pihak pengurusan atasan stesen 98.8 mengambil langkah supaya Jamaluddin Ibrahim "mengambil cuti dan berehat" buat sementara.

Dengan kata lain, nasib Jamaluddin tidak menentu buat sementara waktu. Seandainya beliau terpaksa mengikut jejak Joshua Wong (yang meletak jawatan sebagai protes kerana self-censorship), Chou Z Lam (yang dihentikan RTM sebelum tempoh perkhidmatan tamat mengikut kontrak) dan Tan Ean Nee (yang tidak diperbaharui kontraknya oleh RTM); maka ia semestinya petanda kepada ruang kebebasan bersuara yang semakin sempit dalam zaman pemerintahan Perdana Menteri ke-6, Najib Razak.

Baca: MCMC siasat stesen 98.8: CEO, Pengarah Program digantung jawatan

*Lim Hong Siang ialah Editor MerdekaReview, edisi bahasa Melayu.

MCMC siasat stesen 98.8:
CEO, Pengarah Program digantung jawatan

MerdekaReview | Aug 20, 2010 03:18:08 pm

Star Rfm Sdn. Bhd mengambil langkah selanjutnya untuk menggantung (suspend) jawatan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO 98.8) Wong Lai Ngo, dan Pengarah Program (Director of Programming 98.8) Tan Chia Yong, selepas suara pengacaranya, Jamaluddin Ibrahim disekat daripada ke ruang udara, semalam.

Di samping itu, kelangsungan rancangan call-in "Say Hi to Malaysia" menjadi tanda soal apabila Pengerusi Star RFM Sdn Bhd, Linda Ngiam (gambar kiri) mengumumkan bahawa rancangan ini akan membatalkan sesi "perbincangan hal ehwal semasa", dan digantikan dengan penyiaran muzik dan laporan buletin, buat sementara ini.

Malah, Linda Ngiam mengesahkan bahawa stesen radio 98.8 disiasat oleh pegawai Suruhanjaya Multimedia dan Komunikasi (MCMC) yang melawat ke stesen 98.8 pagi ini, ekoran daripada aduan bahawa rancangan "Say Hi to Malaysia" telah mengutarakan hujah yang tidak sesuai dan "bias".

Linda Ngiam menambah, pihak pengurusan dan penerbitan memandang serius terhadap aduan tersebut. Bagaimanapun, beliau menegaskan bahawa ia sekadar masalah "pentadbiran dalaman", dan menafikan campur tangan MCA dalam hal ini. Beliau juga berkata, siasatan dalaman akan dijalankan oleh pihak syarikat terhadap rancangan dan penerbit rancangan berkenaan.

Pengacara terlibat juga "dihentikan"

Dua orang pengacara rancangan call-in "Say Hi to Malaysia", Wong Chew Yat dan Joe Liaw telah mendedahkan khabar bahawa Jamaluddin Ibrahim terpaksa "mengambil cuti", sambil memberi isyarat secara tersirat bahawa mereka berdepan dengan tekanan daripada pihak berkuasa, semalam.

Apa yang menyusul kemudiannya adalah, kedua-dua penyandang jawatan tinggi 98.8, CEO-nya Wong Lai Ngo (gambar kanan) dan Pengarah Program 98.8, Tan Chia Yong menerima surat daripada Star Rfm Sdn. Bhd, pada petang semalam. Surat tersebut memaklumkan bahawa jawatan mereka telah digantung sehingga satu tarikh yang diberitahu.

Sementara itu, selain Jamaluddin, tiga orang pengacara yang terlibat dalam rancangan tersebut, termasuk Joe Liaw, Wong Chew Yat dan Mah Jiann Min juga dimaklumkan bahawa mereka tidak perlu ke udara pada hari ini. Lantaran daripada itu, rancangan call-in yang membincangkan isu semasa pada kebiasaannya, telah berubah apabila artis seperti Fish Leong diundang ke rancangan pagi ini.

Malah, laman Facebook pengacara (DJ) 98.8 juga ditutup pada awal pagi ini, selepas dibanjiri mesej yang ditinggalkan oleh peminat stesen 98.8.

Reaksi yang berbeza

Selepas pengumuman "pengambilan cuti" Jamaluddin Ibrahim, kira-kira 4000 sms telah membanjiri stesen 98.8, sehingga tengah hari, semalam. Malah, peminat untuk pengacara yang terlibat, juga meninggalkan mesej di laman Facebook masing-masing, menyatakan protes terhadap pencabulan kebebasan bersuara.

Misalnya, bilangan fans Jamaluddin Ibrahim (gambar kiri) melonjak secara mendadak berikutan kejadian tersebut, malah pengguna Facebook telah menubuhkan beberapa kumpulan untuk menyatakan sokongan terhadap Jamaluddin Ibrahim, di samping membantah campur tangan politik ke dalam media. Peristiwa ini telah menjadi antara isu yang paling hangat diperbincangkan di ruang internet sejak semalam.

Ironinya, media cetak arus perdana yang dikuasai tycoon Tiong Hiew King melalui Media Chinese International Limited memberi liputan yang agak kecil kepada isu ini. Bagaimanapun, Oriental Daily dan Kwong Wah Yit Poh memaparkan isu ini di muka surat depannya.

Lebih menarik, MCA yang memiliki stesen radio ini masih mendiamkan diri sehingga kini. Selain daripada pemimpin DAP dan Gerakan, pemimpin MCA yang tidak mengeluarkan kenyataan untuk mempertahankan barisan pengacara rancangan "Say Hi to Malaysia".

Keadaan ini mencungkil kritikan daripada sesetengah pihak, yang menyasarkan MCA dan Barisan Nasional kerana tidak mempertahankan kebebasan bersuara seperti yang dijanjikan.

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."

DJ goes on leave for 'talking too much' on Chinese talk show

Vengeance by Chua Soi Lek !
Unbecoming of a MCA President !

“Dr Chua Soi Lek has given Jamal a few stern public warnings before this, and finally carried out the threat to axe," he said, adding that this was in contrast with Chua's recent reply to deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yasin saying Malaysians had passed the 1969 brand of politics and could engage in rational discussions.

"But CSL [Chua] axed Jamal from 988 anyway!” said Pua among scores of Twitter postings condemning the action on Jamaluddin.

Chua's son, Chua Tee Yong, wasted no time to come to his father's defence, denying that MCA controlled the media

DJ goes on leave for 'talking too much' on Chinese talk show

KUALA LUMPUR (Harakahdaily) - A popular Malay announcer for Chinese-language radio station 988 has been forced to go on leave for apparently "talking too much" on critical issues.

Jamaluddin Ibrahim, who co-hosts the popular socio-economy themed talk show “Zhao Dian Shuo Ma” (Say Hi to Malaysia), was suspected of breaching a prohibition on race speech, and was forced to go on leave today indefinitely.

Jamaluddin said he had received a letter from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

“The letter said that my comments have influenced the security of the country. (It also said) my comments on race relations were not acceptable,” he said.

Colleagues however have launched a campaign to defend him, with the station receiving a deluge of SMS messages and telephone calls urging for Jamaluddin to be reinstated.

This morning, Jamaluddin's Facebook page was also flooded with messages of support, attracting more than 1,300 comments within an hour.

Politicians too were quick to lend their two cents' worth to the latest casualty in the Malaysian broadcast industry.

Son of independence fighter

Jamaluddin, the son of famous Malaysian independence fighter and Communist Party leader Shamsiah Fakeh, was born in Beijing and speaks fluent Chinese. Besides his radio stint, he is also known as a regular contributor to Chinese-language newspapers and magazines.

Jamaluddin's case is the third such incident this year and goes on to show how government frequently puts out dissenting views over the tightly controlled broadcast media.

Earlier this year, private television station NTV7's producer Joshua Wong received a warning over his show “Editor’s Time”. This was followed by the cancellation of a documentary critical of the controversial Bakun dam project on government-run channel TV2.

Meanwhile, Jamaluddin's co-host, Zhao Ji, questioned the action on his colleague, saying he had not created any racial unrest.

“Did we cause any racial unrest? (And) affect the social and national development?” he asked.

Star RFM to probe why 988 radio host was taken off air

KUALA LUMPUR (Star) - Star RFM Sdn Bhd is conducting an investigation into events that led to 988 radio host Jamaluddin Ibrahim being taken off the air.

Company chairman Datin Linda Ngiam said the investigations would also cover how the matter was handled by the staff in charge of the station.

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


Hikayat Perdekar Si Jia Ma Luddin

Salaam Satu Malaysia.

Bulan Ramadhan, Bulan Yang Mulia; ;
Hati Terguris, Jiwa Berkecai;
Menyentuh perasaan, Membara Kemarahan;
Jamaluddin Ibrahim Di Cincang oleh MCA;
Satu-satunya kejayaan Melayu dalam bidang Media Cina;
Satu-satunya Rakyat Malaysia diBangga Semua;

Menyatukan Minda Memupuk Silahturahim;
Menghapus Syak Wasangka oleh Si Jia Ma;

Aduhai KEJAMnya si pemimpin MCA;
Memecahkan Periuk Nasi Si Jamal;
Tak Endah Tuhan yang Maha Esa;
Tak Endah Pengajaran Maaf-Bermaafan;

DiTamatkan jawatan 24 jam;
DiLumatkan Semangat JiaMa oleh MCA.

Mana Dia Keadilaan?
Di Mana Dia Keharmonian;
JiaMa@Jamaluddin Hanya Menyentuh fakta-fakta Kehidupan;

Terlepas mulut menyentuh DVD hanya kerana Ibrahim Perkasa di muka hadapan;
Marah Tak Tentu terus Berkomplot;
Menggunakan kuncu-kuncu untuk membuat laporan;
Akhirnya laporan MCMC beri amaran akibat pemimpin MCA berkomplot;

Hilangnya Jamal dari Radio Cina;
Hilangnya Kemergahan Melayu Kita;

Penguasaan Bahasa Mandarin dengan kejituan topik Sosial;

Hanya tinggal SINISnya MCA yang KEJAM & ZALIM.....


Wasaalam

Hikayat Riwayat Jiwa Sejati