THAT was an apt and interesting comment by Zainul Ariffin Md Isa in "For Guan Eng, it's 'do as I say, not as I do'" (NST, June 6).
And this could have not come at a better a time when the DAP talks of freedom of the press and speech. Do they practice what they say? It seems not.
I can't see why Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has to fear the New Straits Times and Utusan. Other states in Malaysia allow freedom to them. What is so unique about Penang? I am truly baffled.
I say to Guan Eng: take them on, debate with them. Correct them when they are wrong, but speak to them and allow them to report on what you do, why you do it and how you do it. The people want to hear that. Do not overlook these two important dailies.
You have to bear with the good and bad that they report. Others do. They have a duty to report to the best of their ability. They may sometimes make mistakes. Who does not? We aren't infallible.
This is how things are today. These newspapers can't be praising you all the way or simply criticising you when you do no wrong.
Just because they do not highlight you as they do others, it does not mean they dislike you. So take it in your stride.
As a state leader, you can't ignore these two newspapers. You will end up as the loser.
I say these newspapers matter. You, too, of course. So strike a fine balance so that there is a win-win situation.
You need them to serve the people. Why not make use of them?
You need them as much as they need you. It is reciprocal.
It will be good for you, your party, and the people that you now serve. Do no bar them from attending state functions.
And if it is freedom that you talk of, how can you ignore these two much read dailies? Be pragmatic.
- Harian Metro
- Berita Harian
- Business Times
- My Gadget Planet
- Travelific
- Harum
- Eats
- Properties
- News Image Bank (NIB)
- New Economic Model
- NST Reviews
- NiEXUS
- Friends of Travel Times
- Property News
- NSTLIVE Archive
- Spell-It-Right
