What role does the media play when it comes to conflict situations? It isn’t much different than non-conflict times. It’s to be the ears and eyes of the people.
But what happens when the media is directly involved in the situation? Take for example, the armed criminals that have invaded Sabah at the moment.
How does the Malaysian media handle it? It can get quite complicated. We’re not used to it since Malaysia isn’t exactly a war-mongering country like the USA.
I, as a Malaysian journalist, of course, will openly admit that I support fully the protection of Malaysia’s security and sovereignty.
And so where does my loyalty lie? Of course, the Malaysian people are those who I will be serving in my duty as a journalist.
I don’t see the point of re-visiting the Cobbold Commission Report that is probably sitting rotten in a humidity-controlled room somewhere to prove that Sabah is rightfully part of Malaysia.
(But go ahead for those who want to be technical. Trust me, it’ll still show the truth!)
Sabah and its people collectively and willingly chose to form Malaysia together with Sarawak, Malaya and Singapore fifty years ago.
Singapore and its people then made a collective decision to leave. Fine. But Sabah continued to stay with Malaysia.
For fifty years, Sabahans had taken part in every single general election and played a big and important role in the development of Malaysia.
Never once, in fifty years, did they ever rise up and express a wish to leave the country and be a sovereign nation or be a part of the Philippines.
So don’t you, illegitimate armed criminals, dare come into Malaysia, disrupt the lives of Malaysians, kill Malaysians and say that your plight is a legitimate one.
How do you expect Malaysians (and this includes the Malaysian media) to react? Are we suppose to be nice and ‘brotherly’ and say, “Let’s talk.”?
I’m sorry. It doesn’t work that way. Hence, let me get back to the issue of the media and it’s role in situations like this.
What does the media do in this situation? As I have said earlier, we the Malaysian media should stay loyal to Malaysia and its people.
Most importantly, we must be on the ground reporting stories about ordinary people who are directly affected. Nothing tells the truth more than eyewitness accounts.
The media must also relay information from the authorities that will be useful to the people, such as, schools being closed, security updates, evacuations, etc.
Yes, the situation is a very sensitive one. There is no doubt that the authorities will want to control information, and rightfully so. Security and lives are at stake.
But this does not mean they can go about doing anything they want. They are still serving the Malaysian people.
Some people will politicise the situation and even start the blame game (which has started actually). This is okay. It’s part of the check and balance.
So here is where the media, as the ears and eyes of the people, have to practice reasonable judgment in carrying out their duties.
Violent or non-violent action can be taken, albeit it is justified. The media will play the important role of observing and reporting to the people on the actions taken in their name.
Unfortunately, in this invasion of Sabah by the armed criminals, violent action had to be taken. But Malaysians were killed and no other option was open to us.
The situation is not over according to the authorities and operations are still going on to weed out the criminals and end it.
But every cloud has a silver lining.
I have seen Malaysians of differing political stands uniting and standing in solidarity with Sabah and with the issue of our country’s security and sovereignty.
This gives me hope because it shows that every single Malaysian, no matter what our differences are, have the best intentions in our hearts for the country.
I am also thankful to have fine men and women who are willing to risk their lives and sacrifice if need be for Malaysia. They are, in my eyes, the noblest of humans.
Zan Azlee
Wed Mar 06 2013
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