CLEAN UP OUR BACKYARD BEFORE ADVERTISING ABROAD

Aliran feels that the Information Ministry’s plan to buy advertising space in the international media in an attempt to put forward a ‘true account’ of Malaysia may turn out to be counter-productive. It would also be a waste of money, especially at a time when the Government has embarked  on an austerity drive.

Information in the form of advertisements is usually perceived, especially in the Western social context, as propaganda that promotes only a particular viewpoint. Faced with this perception, the message invariably loses its credibility.

Even worse, the use of advertisements in the foreign media would only heighten suspicion that the Malaysian government has a tendency to push its own version of the truth by all means, disregarding other viewpoints.

We empathise with the government over what it claims is the unfairness of the international media. Like many other Malaysian non-governmental organisations and political groups, we too know how frustrating and even painful it is when our views are ignored by the mainstream media here. NGOs in Malaysia are often denied access to the mainstream media and our views are often distorted or taken out of context, so that we are portrayed in a negative light.

The government can overcome the problem of perceived bias in the international media by itself becoming more transparent and accountable. To preempt charges that it practises double standards, the Malaysian government should move to protect and uphold press freedom within Malaysia. One way it can do this is by revoking the law requiring newspapers and magazines to apply for a new licence every year -  a stifling rule that effectively curbs press freedom.

P Ramakrishnan
President
17 November 1997