VETERAN journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin has hit out at the dismal information flow on the part of the Madani government which allows Singapore-owned Channel News Asia (CNA) “to steal the thunder” over the royal pardon prospect of incarcerated former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
If it is not bad enough that the Singaporean media obtained an upper hand in reporting the so-called outcome of the Pardons Board (Federal Territory) meeting on Monday (Jan 29), the former editor-in-chief of mainstream New Straits Times is flabbergasted that nobody from the power that be has stepped forward to confirm or deny the ongoing speculations.
“The main news on Wednesday (Jan 31) was that Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar began his duties as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong. But the focus was somehow diverted by rumours of Malaysian VVIP prisoner Najib getting a partial pardon,” Kadir penned in his latest Facebook post.
“But until now that rumour has neither been confirmed nor denied. Rumours of this magnitude should have been quickly quashed and, if true, confirmed. Or is this the standard of government transparency and intelligence today?
Rubbing it in, Kadir added:
“Foreign news channels, especially from Singapore seem to have gala time reporting such rumour. Due to the state of Malaysia’s slow official communication, Singapore is stealing the thunder from us. Our government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil (Communications Minister) can only say don’t jump the gun and wait for the Pardon Board to make a statement.
“If it is destined that these rumours are true, then it is proven once again that our country is a feudal state for angels and gods and goddesses from heaven to loiter.”
Elaborating further, Kadir also mooted the idea that the unity government which upholds the Madani principles (sustainability, well-being, creativity, respect, confidence and compassion) “treats all prisoners the way it treats Najib”.
“I propose that with immediate effect, all prisoners who are not sentenced to death or life imprisonment have their jail term ‘Najib-sised’, ie by means of having their prison terms and fines reduced across the board.
“It is not fair that high ranking, dignified and wealthy individuals who bring great catastrophe to the common people are accorded reduced prison sentence while a newbie criminal who steals a loaf of bread because his/her child is hungry is left to languish in jail.”
Added the national journalism laureate: “The biggest losers of the 1MBD (1Malaysia Development Bhd) theft are the common people who get nothing. They are the ones who bear the ultimate and total loss.” – Feb 2, 2024
Main pic credit: CNA (Channel News Asia)
