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Ads subsidy for Utusan, Berita Harian? Posted: 10 Nov 2013 11:27 PM PST Advertisement is the lifeline of the media industry. Whether you run a newspaper or a TV station, no advertisement revenue means you are totally 'fucked-up' unless a tycoon out there is generous enough to throw his big bucks to cushion your ailing business. And to entice advertisers, your media organisation must have a BIG name in the market, high circulation and a good ads rate. But this is before the year 2000, folks.After the 11th general election, the trend saw a drastic change when 'pro-government editorial policy' began to lose out to the more 'fair and balanced reporting'. That were the years which saw Utusan group and NSTP group (now under Media Prima) chalked hefty returns from advertisement. However, after the 'rise' of bipartisan politics in the early 2000, a one-sided news coverage has taken its toll on some newspapers. When more and more ads are going to The Star, The Edge, Sinar Harian and other 'fair' news media - not to mention the attraction by Facebook, Twitter, blogs and news portals - Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian and Harian Metro alike are faced with stiffer task to lure more ads, and this has contributed to their dwindling year-to-year profit. Do not blame the advertisers. I agree with some jottings in Malaysiakini about ads policy and its significance to marketing strategy. Business is business, politic is politic. Why do companies advertise? If the company is selling products, it is to reach a lot more people through advertisement by promoting its products. It also draws attention to its given products advertised. The aim is to increase sales. Thus its market share will increase. The constant advertisements also develop brand loyalty. In the first place, to advertise in the rapidly-reduced readers' mainstream media like Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian is not only outdated but also not cost effective. There is no value for money if GLCs (government-linked companies) were to advertise here. Has Ahmad Maslan not heard of the latest trend in advertising through online media like popular social media (Facebook, YouTube) and alternative news websites such as Malaysiakini? The easy reach to millions of readers (read: customers) are there to benefit the advertisers. Is Maslan asking for 'donations' for the two main Umno-linked newspapers when there is no added value for the expenses? This is irresponsible of the minister to use public fund by asking GLCs to throw away good money to save the sorry financial state of affairs in both the Malay dallies. Ahmad Maslan also stated that we must take into account the struggle of Utusan and Berita Harian for this country. What? This is business. If they cannot run the companies well and before they go bankrupt, ask them to surrender the limited, restricted and privileged printing licences to Malaysiakini who had to go to court to fight for one. Sometimes when we play too much politics, we tend to forget the main objective of our business - to stay relevant, competitive and most of all register more profit for the benefit of our employees. And why must people like Ahmad Maslan issued 'a directive' to the GLCs to advertise their products in Utusan and BH? A directive is a MUST-FOLLOW instruction, and I personally think it was stupid of him to step into the field naked without 'proper attire'! The recent order by Putrajaya for government-linked corporations (GLCs) to spend more advertising ringgit in Umno-linked Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian (BH) runs against the spirit and provision of the Competition Act, MCA Vice President Gan Ping Siew says. Gan issued this statement after Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Malan was reported saying that more money is needed to support the two Malay newspapers. He believes that this move amounts to anti-competition practice and that Ahmad should retract his statement. He explains that the nature of a GLC is a 'company' and it must be run as a commercial entity on commercial principles to be able to compete in the market. It is also against the GLCs shareholders' interest, if it is a listed company, by spending advertisement and promotion expenditure without justifiable returns, Gan stresses. "If Sinar Harian, Metro, Kosmo, Star, Sinchew, Oriental, Malay Mail and many other media houses can compete, as they should , in the marketplace, in attracting more readers and advertisers on their own merit, I see no reasons why Utusan should enjoy privilege at public fund. It is an affront to Utusan's competence and professionalism too." he says. However, I do not wish to see the demise of Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian. Both newspapers - apart from pioneering the Bahasa Malaysia news industry - have been sentimental to the Malays and many non-Malays, especially in educating them bahasa Melayu. But its time for both to undertake a serious approach between business and politics. We can't let them survive on 'ads subsidy' from the GLCs because they need to do their level best to entice other business players too. The GLCs, on the other hand should consider their business-and-politics obligation in supporting Umno-owned media industry. Politics do not promise you much but a good, strong and vibrant business will serve many aspects of the society. The Star, for instant, is a good example of MCA-owned media company. While supporting the BN government, it gives some space to Opposition news to attract as many advertisers as it could, realising some good companies are pro-PAS, pro-DAP or pro-PKR. A handsome profit from ads will be translated into more bonuses, higher x-gratia and other benefits for the workers, employer and the shareholders. And The Star is not at all perturbed by wild accusations that it is pro-DAP, knowing many opposition members and supporters read the newspapers and appreciate its fairness in disseminating news. And what is wrong with being 'fair' instead of playing up race-based politics that turns off readers and advertisers?

KJ 'ada telur'! Posted: 10 Nov 2013 02:00 AM PST On October 25, High Court Judge Ahmadi Asnawi acquitted former Cabinet minister Dr Ling Liong Sik of charges that he had cheated the government in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) land deal, and the 14-day deadline for the prosecution to file an appeal against the decision, expired last Friday. In acquitting Dr Ling, the judge said the defense had established reasonable doubt in the prosecution's case. He also said evidence by the defense revealed that Dr Ling did not conceal anything from the Cabinet, lending credence to his contention that he had no part in determining the land price and was only interested in getting the land fast. For almost everybody - except the opposition - the case is closed and Dr Ling was clean. The DAP especially had questioned why the prosecution team 'refused' to appeal against the High Court's decision. Barely 20 days later, DAP gets an unexpected and unprecedented moral support. Read this: An Umno minister has joined DAP in calling on the  attorney-general Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to explain why Putrajaya is not appealing former transport minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik's acquittal of cheating charges in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal. Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Abdul Gani needed to explain his decision as it was a matter of public interest. "I think it is a public interest case and there must be some clarification on the part of the attorney-general if he is not pursuing an appeal and what grounds there are. "This is a very important case and I think the public wants to know what the reasons behind this are," he was quoted as saying by news portal Malaysiakini after an event in Bukit Jalil today. The AG's decision not to appeal the acquittal has was questioned by DAP chairman Karpal Singh. "The case should also not end with the acquittal. There must be an inquiry into the colossal losses incurred in the PKFZ," he had said. Waaaaahhh!!! Many would say 'KJ ada telur', 'KJ berani' and 'KJ hebat' for sharing DAP's stand on the matter. And not few would accuse him of aligning himself with the opposition pact for calling on the AG to re-open Dr Ling's case. However, I believe the public needs to know more, not about Dr Ling alone but the manner in which the whole PKFZ 'scandal' was covered up by certain parties. And I also believe KJ speaks for himself and not for the opposition. DAP's Karpal Singh, Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng must be overjoyed and excited with KJ's support but they must bear in mind that it has nothing to do with the opposition's 'attacks' on the High Court's decision. So, who else has got the 'telur'?

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