Keeping the Star newspaper HONEST

Date: 14 Oct 2008

Open Letter to the Editor-in-Chief of the Star newspaper

Attn: Datuk Wong Chun Wai

On October 11th the Star published a very biased article against me, claiming that I said that I will sacrifice some of my colleagues so that I can be appointed to the Cabinet if Im elected President.

Your reporter and editorial team went all out to put words in my mouth and to paint me as a power hungry man.

In good faith I asked for a correction from your newspaper, which you agreed to do the next day.

However to my disappointment on October 12th you published an article saying that I claimed that my statement was taken out of context.

I wish to be very clear. I never made the sacrifice statement.

Your newspaper should have issued an apology for putting words in my mouth.

Datuk Wong Chun Wai, a man of your experience and knowledge would already have known the President of MCA always has the prerogative to submit a list of the ministers and deputy ministers from his party to the Prime Minister. This does not make the MCA President a power hungry man.

Very fortunately, knowing your editorial teams bias my campaign team recorded the interview on camera to ensure your honesty.

This video will show how the reporter attempted to make me seem power hungry but was instead given a free lesson on the Malaysian political process.

I have uploaded this video to Youtube for all Malaysians to see.

This blatant attempt to discredit a candidate not aligned to your political masters is the same reason why I fought against the Nanyang takeover.

I am certain many Malaysian's share in my disappointment with the lack of journalistic integrity displayed by your newspaper.

Dato Chua Jui Meng
(MCA Presidential Candidate 2008)
http://www.chuajuimeng.com/

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• chua
• jui
• meng
• mca
• reform
• election
• the
• star
• newspaper
• bias
• ong
• tee
• keat

[FemaleVoter]

1:56 Who was the other reporter who asked the same stupid question?

I also protest against the despicable comments made against the female sex. Shameful and uncouth.

[cjmmca]

We have removed the vulgar comments.

You are right, they have no place in this discussion.

Dato' Chua Jui Meng had several interviews that day, so perhaps he was referring to another reporter. No, we did not record that interview as we did not believe that we had to keep that newspaper honest.

[G2Banana]

As shown by some of our fellow commentators, its ok too for a reporter to act stupid. It's an effective method to dig out more from the interviewee. Poor English is another issue for another day.

The lesson from this video: Readers must be told the whole story.

So, cjmmca, like it or not, short of time/manpower or not, please find ways to post the whole interview so viewers can have informed 2 way opinion.

This titillating bit is not good enough to claim victimised by media. Amen.

[cjmmca]

Dear G2Banana,

If we had the time we would. Unfortunately like it or not we do not have the time for now.

Check back in after 18th October. We hope to do so then.

Thanks.

[ysmzarul]

firstly,thanks for ur explaination. but what i mean is to the last question did dato' chua replied anything other than "its so basic please" and "its a very basic of politics" coz that question is the key point here where the reporter is accused of 'misreported" dato' chua statement. but i agree with dato' chua opinion with cabinet reshuffling after party election since current pm already announce that he will leave the office in march. but what happened to whom currently in office from mca now?

[cjmmca]

Dear ysmzarul,

Once again a valid question. After this segment she goes on to ask Dato' Chua on his plans for the party should he win the elections and Dato' Chua explains his manifesto.

[hanmol23]

I don't think there is any need to review other footage from this interview. It is evident that the journalist is, sorry to use the word.."thick". Her lack of understanding on something basic such as a cabinet reshuffle and then knowing when to shut up once her ignorance is exposed is truly amazing.

I would love to see her now go up to Najib and ask him whether he will be asking Pak Lah to step down as Prime Minister should Najib win the UMNO election.

[expose40]

to the young stupid journalist if u are reading this.....get another job! you are so low class & a big shame to all journalists in Malaysia. what i saw was the highest class of journalism stupidity from a stupid young bitch who comes from an equally stupid editorial team!!

[kleeokraden]

I smell something fishy going on here... Everybody knows that The Star is as reliable as tabloid news, but how on earth did they decide to stab Chua knowing that there was a recording??

The camera was very obviously repositioned at 2:09 and Chua keeps glancing at the camera, so the reporter MUST have known the interview was being recorded.

[Sanghna]

Malaysian reporters are fucked up reporters who only thing of salary and bodek.

[slanndex]

Firstly, I would like to totally agree that vulgar comments and generalised bias against reporters have no place here. There are good reporters out there - the ones with integrity and journalistic excellence!

I am just not sure how many of them work for The Star :)

But after watching the video again - I note that the reporter is pretty deliberate in steering the interview - it is almost as if she is trying to lead CJM to saying the wrong thing.

[ykgen]

i think lowowern's comment is unfair to all journalists especially those who r trying to give a fair and objective reporting.

[kleeokraden]

Dear cjmmca, though I don't think I know enough to be able to take either side, I fully support this direction towards (hopefully) ensuring reporters and the newspapers they work for are more accountable in their reporting. For too long we have allowed shady journalism, now the advent of the internet age provides us such an opportunity to change this.

I appreciate too your rational & collected arguments, without resorting to demonising (too much, at least) the reporter.

[jujubesaregood]

Oh well... this is the same Star newspaper that was predicting the huge general election victory for BN just before March 8th... does this really surprise anyone?

The only thing I'm surprised about is that no one has thought of capturing these interviews on tape before. =)

But yeah I agree, let's lay off the reporter. She has to please her bosses too.

Ultimately political parties should not own newspapers.