Zam sought International Media Treaty

Malaysia's Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin assured Indonesian Government that the Malaysian mass media will not allow Indonesian opposition parties the media space and opportunity to "write bad things" that could "run down" its government. With this assurance, Zainuddin has high hope the Indonesian counterpart would reciprocate in like manner so that the same sensitivity will be applied by the Indonesian mass media.

What Zam means is that Indonesian government must also control and gag their mass media and stop them from writing things that could "run down" Malaysian government. "Malaysian newspapers will not attack the Indonesian President and meddle in the internal affairs of Indonesia."

Zam said Malaysian newspapers and television stations respected the principle of Non-Interference in line with Asean's position not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

What is important is that, "by refraining from publishing negative and sensitive reports" even though the reporters may be telling the truth, in his honest opinion, such refrain, it will improve bilateral ties.

In fact, Zam said the mass media from both countries should try to publish as many positive news, such as, the success of the Indonesian workers working in Malaysia who returned home to rebuild the village with money earned from Malaysia.

The Malaysian mass media have tried to publish as much positive news of other countries to show them that this is our government;s culture, a culture of controlling the mass media to ensure that they are saying good things about other nations, a culture to portray the other national government as a good and loving government.

Now, bloggers are also targeted to exercise the same culture of love, care and non-interference.

Ok, I will do Zam a favor here:

News report in bits and pieces:

Benazir Bhutto "Killed by sunroof"
Other claim ridiculed

The Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema claimed on Friday that the medical report showed that Benazir died due to a fatal fracture in her skull after she accidentally hit an iron lock on the sunroof of her vehicle. (extracted from TheStar, pg W40, para 6)

Therefore, if such is the case, in my humble opinion, it could be classified as "accidental death".

However, the Pakistan Government blamed Benazir's killing on Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants. Cheema also claimed that the October bomb attack against Benazir that killed 140 people in Karachi was carried out by Al-Qaeda leader Mehsud. Mehsud denied it. (extracted from TheStar, pg W40, para 9-11)

Benazir's spokeswoman Sherry Rehman, who was in Benazir's motorcade at the time of the suicide attack said: "I believe the interior ministry is saying that she died from some concussion that may have taken place against the sunroof." (extracted from NST pg 19, para 8)

Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said on Friday that Benazir died from hitting her vehicle's sunroof when she tried to duck after a suicide attack, and that no bullet or shrapnel was found in her. (extracted from NST pg 19, para 9)

Police then claimed the attacker first fired at Benazir's vehicle, she ducked and then the assailant blew himself up (extracted from NST pg 19, para 11).

Seeking a new source of legitimacy, Musharraf had hoped to strike a political bargain with Benazir's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). But with Benazir dead and the PPP in disarray, Kiyani (the man selected by Musharraf to be the head of army) could well be the stronger man. He leads Pakistan's most powerful institution which, whether he embraces the role or not, makes him the country's kingmaker. (extracted from TheStar, page W42, para 5-7)

So What's Safe to Eat Now?
(Headline in frontpage of NST, December 30, 2007)

Najib: BN not afraid of those out to create chaos (Headline, Prime News, page 2)
"We are not apologetic. We will not be apologetic," Najib said.

The BN government has forged its agenda ... (part of para 3) All this will become a reality if... (para 4)

"Are those people who demonstrated on the streets going to be responsible? They have skeletons in the cupboard, too." (part of para 7)

"Democracy had always been the government's chosen path, even during emergency rule (part of para 11)

And in my humble opinion, based on the "chosen path philosophy" as embraced, ISA and detention without trial must also be a fundamental democratic principles of freedom to choose, and freedom to arrest.

Was corruption also a freedom to take, which would naturally include the freedom to give, all of which must naturally fall within the "Laissez-faire" doctrine of freedom of choice and action?