Propaganda crap continues on The Star

If one were to pick up an English paper today, one would see a lot of propaganda crap floating around, especially if you are one of the majority of people who gets their daily news dosage from the likes of The Star and NST.

Today, I'm going to continue with my criticism against the former after reading this article, A step closer to ISA?

It was loaded with views that are only meant to make the government look good. The writer tried to portray his article as an objective piece, but it ended up being 90% pro-government and a trifle mention of any opposing arguments.

Let's take a look at what he said.

A British legacy, it is regarded by many as draconian and to be used only as the last resort when the country’s security is threatened.

Over the last few days, the chorus for the use of the ISA against the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has become louder.

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein Onn – two senior Umno leaders – want the ISA invoked while MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said he would not interfere if the ISA were used.

To begin with, as a country aspiring to be the first of many things - including the cultivation of a first world mentality, the Internal Security Act (ISA) IS draconian and should not exist when the rule of law is properly in place, and justly applied. The government uses the ISA merely as a tool to quash dissenting voices and to protect its interests. While it is only my opinion, one need not think too deeply to clearly see that our government's interests today no longer represents the interests of its people. The government is only interested in protecting the the few, the powerful, and the well-connected, i.e. themselves.

In short, ISA is used mainly to ensure that they have a continuity in power and that any party or group that are seen to be challenging their dominance, must be crushed - brutally - and without mercy. That is their justification to use the ISA. Of course, they would be fools to tell it straight to your face.

The author of the article says that the chorus of voices that are asking for the use of the ISA are increasing and getting louder. One only need to look at the names that he has supplied to see the stupidity of this remark when these voices comes from the government itself - if not entirely from UMNO, who sees any challenge to it's dominance as a taboo. "Saya pantang dicabar", remember?

And then, the writer further adds:

The pressure seems to have been stepped up and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi must surely be aware of the feeling on the ground.

Any decision to use the ISA would not make the leadership popular, particularly in the eyes of the world, but for many Malaysians, this could well be the only solution to keep the peace and stability.

The feeling on the ground is that the Prime Minister (PM) should get his act together and do something about fulfilling his promises to fight graft and be a PM for everyone. Up till now, his record on fighting graft is almost zero. He has allowed racist and sexist remarks from MPs from his very own UMNO party to go unpunished.

Under his government, we have seen a rise in crime rates - need we even mention the words snatch thieves? How about doing an interview with the residents in Johore Bharu? One Johorian friend once told me that if you are staying in Johore and your house has not been broken into, then you cannot be considered a Johorian. Although I took his "statistics" with more than a pinch of salt, the appalling crime rates is this country - not only in Johore - is clearly getting from bad to worst. How many reports on crime is The Star reporting daily? And what have our Pak Lah done to alleviate this? Has his premiership made any difference to say if any other Tom, Dick or Harry was in his place instead?

The use of ISA is NOT popular - full stop. It's not only unpopular by world's standard, but it grossly unpopular with the common Malaysian people, with the exception of the government and its boot-licking cronies, and also not forgetting people with third world mentality such as Mr. Wong.

The only solution to maintaining peace and stability is to implement policies that are just and fair for every Malaysians. It's utter ridiculous nonsense, particularly coming from an experience journalist, to say that the application of a specific law - one that is often spat upon - to be the saviour of the peace and harmony in our country. That is super third world mentality for you.

Moving forward, I'll skip his other comments on Hindraf, since it's nothing but excuses to justify the use the draconian law. But let's take a look at the last few paragraphs:

Yesterday, about 100-odd people, including lawyers, some linked to Parti Keadilan Rakyat, and activists, went ahead with a protest march although the Bar Council had called it off. As lawyers, they should know the law better, even if they disagreed with it and taking to the streets is something new to Malaysian politics.

Tomorrow, the PKR-backed Bersih intends to gather outside Parliament House for another protest.

These series of protests have put the leadership under test, if not strain, including within their party and supporters.

No one should be surprised if the ISA is used against those who threaten racial harmony, as enough warnings have been given.

The right to protest and the right to march should not be something alien to Malaysians. And it's not new either. Malaysian took to the streets when they opposed the the Malayan Union even before we achieved our independence. Mr. Wong, please go and do your homework. In Malaysia, protesting on the streets is only a taboo after the May 13 incident - and that also applies only to non-UMNO protest walks. What happened to the protest by the one famous son-in-law in front of the US Embassy? Was that peaceful? All I remembered was his 'beruk' (literally means ape) face on the blogs. What did that do to investors' confidence?

The writer is correct in one sense when he said that no one should be surprised if the ISA is used. But that is because Malaysians has always learnt that the ISA is ever ready to embrace those who opens their mouth against the government. Especially, if you are capable of rocking the political boat, you are surely deemed worthy of some time with the ISA.

We, Malaysians have learnt one thing well and that is to fear the government when it utters the words I-S-A.

Update: It's refreshing to read something closer to reality from our local press. Read Opposing Democracy and judge for yourself.