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| Posted: 08 Sep 2013 09:42 PM PDT The Edge, on its front page Saturday, had Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng 'all filled up'. I don't remember any other days when the DAP secretary-general was displayed so prominently by the 'financial-cum-political' paper. It may appear so usual to many but to newspaper players and observers, it was figuratively intended. It indicates the swift change to its editorial policy, from a strictly business and pro-government to a more neutral platform, and even a gradual sway to the other side of the political divide after sensing the strength of the opposition in the 13th general election.  Of course, its nothing wrong with that but it is unerring to equate such a reaction as a 'political felony', similar to the days when pro-government Chinese language newspapers were labelled as being pro-DAP. Is The Edge having 'a change of heart'? Many would say 'yes'. Its easy to reach that brevity that the paper is finding more comfort by publishing more pleasant opposition news but the question will only be answered in its coming issues. Launched in 1994, The Edge was set to strictly focus on wide economic reports, domestically and internationally but there were already signs of political footings to its reports since last year when it's FZ.com came online. And that's when the main paper realised the need to join others who already jumped onto the political bandwagon. Actually our political affray provides media players with plenty of news substance but for a financial paper to display such a great interest is making readers aghast. What is the paper trying to lucre here when financial and economic news are already bringing them big bucks? What could possibly have pervaded them? I was made to understand that the Home Ministry has turned down the management request for FZ.com be given a permit to operate as a daily, on grounds that we already have enough such dailies on the stand. Friends at The Edge told me the decision was unfair. I reserved comments but my media buddies agreed with the ministry's decision, few of whom said it would be a waste of money unless FZ.com becomes a pullout to The Edge. Well, The Edge is not the only one. I have seen how The Malay Mail played up opposition stories but went unnoticed. Knowing how close its owner is to Putrajaya inner circle makes critics get on to deaf ears. Attacks are usually on The Star, the MCA-owned English daily that comes under pro-Umno and anti-Chinese 'close circuit' watch and monitoring. Any opposition news published by The Star will be deemed as one support for DAP. The Star - which published most reports on BN campaigns, most attacks on the opposition and few 'running news' about Pakatan Rakyat (the kind of things readers and voters need to know) during the 13th GE was fast labelled as being pro-DAP and managed by DAP appointees. The only thing Malaysians are not aware of is the fact that while other newspapers - mainstream or not - are politically-driven, The Star is the only one business-driven. While its editorial policy remains pro-government, it puts the interest and welfare aspects of its workers above all (about 50 per cent of its staff are Malays and non-Chinese). The Edge may place FZ.com on the par with Mkini, MI and MChronicle if the want, as a symbol of 'soft protest' over Home Ministry's rejection but the main business paper should maintain its credibility and position. Yes, there are politic-oriented business news (like the one on LGE) but if we pushed such stories to the front page and let a major national policy news far inside, everybody will say something is not right there, unless we already make clear of our political stand. But still, its their call...  |
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