THE distorted and lopsided news content aired by Awesome TV in its recent Berita 7:57 slot does not only breach journalistic ethics but can actually fuel racial discord amid already worrisome ethnic cracks among Malaysians.
In fact, the blatant disregard for racial harmony by consciously sowing the seed of hatred 65 years into Malaysia’s independence is an act of cowardice, to say the least.
“The proliferation of race-based and provocative narratives is counter-productive for a multiracial country like Malaysia. Practising journalists should be careful to not stoke unnecessary tension by producing misinformation,” former Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) CEO Datuk Yong Soo Heong told FocusM.
“We have to wean off that great sense of entitlement whenever something goes awry. This is the 21st century. Nobody owes us a living in this world. It’s time we wise up and do the right thing.”
FocusM had in recent times urged satellite pay TV operator Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd to boycott with immediate effect Awesome TV and its Berita 7:57 from airing on its Channel 123 after the latest ruckus of disseminating malicious content via its news bulletin.
“As a broadcaster, Astro is liable for its content … in fact, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) should rope in both Awesome TV and Astro for an explanation,” reckoned another veteran journalist.
To quickly recap, Berita 7:57 has blamed Securities Commission (SC) executive chairman Datuk Syed Zaid Syed Jaafar Albar for failing to help Bumiputera companies – in particular two ailing global oil & gas (O&G) outfits, namely Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd and Sapura Energy Bhd – even as both companies form the backbone of the Bumiputera economy.
Also on the firing line was the non-Bumiputera business community with Berita 7:57 insinuating that despite forming 67% of the Malaysian population, Bumiputera only hold 7% stake in the country’s economy while the Chinese – despite only making up 21% of the population – controls 80% of the economy.
“If these Bumiputera companies are not helped, the Bumiputera will lose whatever stakes they have in the economic pie,” Berita 7:57 pointed out.
At a glance, it can be imagined that the TV station’s racist and inflammatory-laced propaganda is targeted at specific audience for vote canvassing – namely rural folks who are oblivious of the country’s corporate affairs or state of economic developments – all in anticipation of the forthcoming 15th General Election (GE15).
FocusM has reached out to Awesome TV’s head of news operations Sofwan Mahmood for comment but to no avail at the time of writing. – May 6, 2022
