Mahathir-ists

The media is full of the so-called ‘battle’ between former and current Prime Ministers. Again, I see it as diversionary tactics to turn our attention from more pressing matters. Like how I have to allot a quarter of my salary for utility bills now instead of less than one fifth. Seriously, my electricity bill is about RM100 more than usual, and I’m considered lucky. What about those earning much less and have more responsibility than I do?

I got off tangent there.

The media is partly to blame for the sensational coverage of the battle royale which many see as a one-sided affair, with the mainstream channels showing allegiance to the current administration not in the most subtle of ways. (By the way, I didn’t see the point of journalists going after has-been politicians, who had shifted his loyalties quite a few times in the past, to get HIS views on the matter)

I was at a meeting yesterday with senior newsmen, all belonged to the NSTP group at one time or another. After business was adjourned, the topic of conversation strayed to the issue of Tun vs Pak Lah. The two pakciks I had lunch with commented how the government’s hold on mainstream media is so unprecendented now.

I guess you can say I’m a Mahathir-ist. At least during his time, the media is a tool to govern the country, not to make him look good all the time.

One former editor said that, and RY concurred. In a way, I agree with them. I can’t say I am a big fan of the Tun, but he did quite a lot of good things. Yes, there are bad stuff too. However, at the rate Pak Lah is going, I don’t know if he can continue to be oblivious about public dissatisfaction on certain issues.

I guess it’s not just the general situation, but specifically the one at Jalan Riong that many are not happy about. One after another, things just got from bad to worse – BT being a pullout in main paper instead of the country’s ONLY English financial daily, the NST shrunk to a tabloid, the new Malay Mail. While I used to buy MM before, I’ve totally stopped after the new edition hit the stands. It’s just too hip for me. Even the sports section is not what it used to be.

Yes, some of the changes happened even before the new administration was in place, namely the ones at BT. That’s something I still feel strongly about, even now. *sigh*

Apparently, the NSTP AGM was the place to be yesterday. Another so-called Mahathir-ist said what he wanted to say and today got his letter published.

All these politicising is so distasteful lah. I know, some profit from all the ass-kissing, but most of us just want to be able to pay our bills and not worry about being able to make rent.