Today I was again confronted by a very disturbing trend that I sincerely hope is not becoming a habit for us, Malaysians and the world at large. (I freely admit that I to suffer from this habit and hope that this post serve as a reminder to myself and others.)
People don’t verify facts. People report on hearsay.
Today, I had a friend of mine post on his FB wall condemning the alleged RM24 million ring purchased by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the Prime Minister’s wife. At this point, let me clarify, I am not writing this post to defend Rosmah, if anything she is one of my least favorite people. I honestly believe she is and will continue to be a liability to the Barisan Nasional government unless some drastic miracle happens.
To be honest, I had not heard about the ring until after the height of its controversy, just a day or two before puasa had began actually. I was at a leadership course when the subject was raised/mention by quite a number of people. The whole month prior to the course I was quite busy that I hadn’t had the time to bother with the news.
My initial reaction was quite honestly, “oh my God, what has Najib let Rosmah do this time.” I was among the many people who upon hearing the matter started condemning Rosmah. Had it been Tun Hasmah or Marina Mahathir or even Wan Azizah, I would have definitely rejected the story out right.
It was not until I met a very senior member of the Malaysian Bar who is known for his criticism of the BN Government that I realize my mistake.
He told me that he doesn’t believe the RM24 million ring story was true. When asked why, he said that just because it is alternative media, doesn’t mean that it’s true. That we all should consider the story presented to us.
It got me thinking again.
Most Malaysians are a trusting lot. We don’t really pause to consider what is told to us. And in the past, this was especially true when it came from the government. It is good that this has change. But at the same time, it would seem that we have not seemed to shake this attitude when it came to things we hear from our friends, family and yes alternative media (in the case of some people) and yes mainstream media (in the case of other people. Hmm, perhaps with the exception of Utusan).
We, myself included, are quick to believe things that are told to us. I, myself might be worst off because I still tend to believe and view mainstream media whilst still looking around what the alternative media is saying and finding myself swayed in that direction pulak.
This whole thing had me considering back to an incident which quite frankly turned me a bit of a skeptic when it came to free press. I was working for an international/intergovernmental organization. One of my many roles was to monitor all forms of media; as such I was given access to all possible media, from Utusan, NST, Star to harakah, suara keadilan, Malaysiakini, Malaysia Insider and etc.
What I found there shocked me.
Same incidents were being reported but from very different spins. There were even examples of irresponsible journalism from both sides of the media, alternative and mainstream.
For example, one incident that stands clearly in my mind was articles on Najib after his first 100days as Prime Minister. Tun Dr. Mahathir was interviewed and asked his opinion of Najib after the first 100 days. A particular mainstream newspaper stated in its article that Tun only had praises for Najib. While a supposedly free independent alternative online newspapers stated in its article that Tun only had criticisms for Najib.
When the two articles were compared, I found that the mainstream had omitted the criticisms while the alternative had omitted the praises. Freedom of the press when the press can’t be responsible. Ironic.
Basically all I am trying to say is that we should not take everything at face value whether it comes from the main stream media or the alternative media.
We should always verify facts. Research the issue. Figure out where we stand with sufficient information. We should not be so quick to believe only that which we want to be true nor should we be so quick to disbelieve what we want to be untrue.
Just because you are a BN supporter doesn’t mean you should immediately believe what the main stream media tells you about… say Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s alleged sex video.
And just because you are a PR supporter doesn’t mean you should immediately believe what allegedly free alternative media tells you about… say Najib’s alleged involvement in the Altantuya murder.
Don’t let your emotions get in the way of your judgment. I had found it to be one of the heights of hypocrisy that when Raja Petra wrote about the alleged Rosmah/Najib involvement in the Altantuya case; people from BN was so quick to condemn and brand him as a liar while people from PR was so quick to hail him as a hero of free speech.
When Raja Petra later retracted the story; the same BN people who were so quick to condemn him were then so quick to believe him, claiming the truth has revealed itself. Whilst the same PR people who had hailed him a hero were then so quick to condemn him as a sellout.
Listen. Research. Think. Decide.
Know that everyone is pushing some sort of political agenda.
(In a way, I suppose I am too.)
Get credible sources.
That you heard it from your cousin who heard it from his friend who had a brother who was there when it happened is NOT a credible source.
That is hearsay.
Criticize. But do so responsible.
Consider the effect of your words on others.
Quite honestly, as for myself, with regard to the story of the ring, I am still unsure. So to me, for now, it’s innocent till proven guilty. Rather than criticized Najib on this ring, I rather criticized him on the Warisan Merdeka Tower or the lack of transparency on the Australia-Malaysia Refugee deal.
Just a thought.
Selamat menyambut Hari Raya to all Muslims and a Happy Merdeka to us Malaysians! In advance. ;)
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