Friday, January 30, 2009

Another Open Letter, Pete?

Someone sent me an email to alert me of another RPK open letter recently. Yes. From a man bankrupt of ideas (who is also a bankrupt) , and according to my well informed sources also a man who sells his skills, it comes as no surprise. Funny how it always seems that whatever he writes, readers tend to take it all in. Till date all his accusations remain just that, no proof, no reveal, just accusations.

Yes, he can probably be classified as a victim, in the case of his recent ISA detention. But then again there are 63 others who are deemed a danger to national security. It cannot be denied that he writes from his heart, and along with that his readers take heed in his rantings. But one wonders how many of his readers know about his background? For example, presumably, he was a director in a public listed company (before it went public) to handle bumiputera contacts and to reap all benefits that went along with it. It isn’t his fault really, because a man has to make a living, right? But what about the extent of going to see Tun Dr Mahathir and even to see Dato Seri Najib for financial support? It is ok, because the man has to make a living, right? And hence, when he could not get any money from either of them, he turned on them, presumably.

In his latest open letter addressed to Pak Lah, it is said that BN is now opposed by young rural malays as they see hope in Pakatan Rakyat. He went as far as to say that the ‘Kampung Malays’ are openly defiant of UMNO ad the recent results in the Trengganu by-election is a concerted no to Pak Lah and the soon to be Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib.

It is easy for him to comment on these results, because when RPK says so, it is a fact. Forget about the 30 odd thousand voters that voted for BN. Forget about the fact that Chinese populated constituencies voted for BN. Pay attention instead to the fact that Kuala Trengganu, though urban in part is very much rural country and the fact that PAS has a strong foothold on islamist fundamentals. Malaysian politics is hard to predict, and one wonders how a candidate is named (PAS named their candidate based on the party supremo’s dream that he had the right candidate). The fact remains that there is a government in power in the form of Barisan Nasional, which that has brought this country to prosper and continues to lead the country in these trying times.
One must not forget that in the lead of the yet to be proven Pakatan Rakyat is a former figure of UMNO, Annuar Ibrahim. Annuar is no angel either, having been in the heart of UMNO’s corridor of power who has even attacked the Indian community in his infamous ‘I will silence the Temples’ tirade in Penang. However, since the March 8 elections, the rakyat has see it fit to place their eggs in Annuar’s basket (given their support in Parliament,m it can be argued that Pakatan has almost one third support, almost)

As a former journalist in Singapore, one has to be doubly sure of facts and figures when reporting. Bur these rules do not seem to apply to bloggers. For example, if I were to say that United States is in fact doomed and that 25% of their citizens are already unemployed according to the New York Evening Today. But there really isn’t a New York Evening Today, and the figures are really something that was plucked from the air! So how does one really check the figures? Readers should and must do their own verification. But how many actually do? So if it was printed in Malaysia Today, it must be true, because if it wasn’t then they would have sued RPK! So on the basis of no legal suit, then it must be true!

All said, readers must pay attention to false accusations and nay-sayers. Do not be taken in by false reporting. IF THERE ARE NO SENSATIOAL NEWS, its really means just that. If you choose to read open letters, let’s just say you should then stay open to judgements. Ever wondered why there are no open letters in Singapore? Singaporeans are more knowledgeable, and choose not to believe in false news. Malaysians are the opposite. The more lies the better.

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