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What Is Al-Jazeera’s Agenda Against Malaysia?

By Kaki Bedal

 

Al-Jazeera is a very well known news station. Especially since it has taken the decision to paint Malaysia negatively.

The station however started out in a different direction. Criticising Western countries for siding with Israel in the issue about Palestine.

Criticising and condemning Western hypocrisy on issues of international concern, with Israeli aggression against Palestinians the spearhead.

Arab countries also were among its target, for being corrupt, ruling their population with an iron fist and the endless critique on democracy that’s not real in the region.

The station is, or was for a time hailed as an exemplary reporting in a balanced way as it did not shy away from publishing issues that showed the West as ‘bullies’ and certainly just protecting their interest is the only objective, right or wrong.

Then, something change. Al-Jazeera stop criticising such things and became another CNN, that is a station that presents news but nothing controversial while siding with the powerful.

Or rather, reporting a controversy on behalf of the powerful.

It is now a station that prioritizes ‘shock and awe’  to get high ratings, one good example is against Datuk Seri Najib Razak regarding the 1MDB issue.

It succeeded in further poisoning the minds of the Malaysian voters pre-GE14 elections and the rest is history.

The reporting on Malaysia’s stand on the refugee issue is the latest move by the station, this time against Malaysia’s new Prime Minister.

If the station wanted to pursue really scandalous and controversial issues here, they know what issue is best suited for that – the 22 months of Pakatan Harapan disastrous administration.

In fact, they will probably get a very high rating assessing the Pakatan Harapan manifesto not being fulfilled one bit.

That’s a no brainer.  That is why some dubbed Al-Jazeera as Al-Jahiliah.

A website, Allsides.com has this to say about the station:

“Our independent reviewer found that many of Al Jazeera’s pieces employ types of media bias such as emotionalism, slant, spin, and bias by omission.”

Is it any wonder that people get emotional because of such reporting due to slant, spin and bias by omission of their reporting?

Does Al-Jazeera has an agenda against Malaysia?

Given the kind of reaction it’s reporting has provoked, it looks that way.

Even though they (International television channel Al Jazeera) should apologise for coming up with an allegedly false report on the country, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“As international media, we expect Al Jazeera to have high ethics. But, the report does not seem to contain clear facts and is full of baseless accusations, ” the Defence Minister claimed Monday (July 6).

Titled “Locked up in Malaysia’s Lockdown”, the Al Jazeera 101 East report was published on July 3 and featured a 25-minute video which accused the Malaysian government of arresting illegal immigrants under the guise of public health and safety.

The video also showed an Al Jazeera journalist blaming a barbed wire fence set up during the enhanced movement control order (MCO) period in Selayang, Selangor, for preventing him from interviewing one of the illegal workers.

Time will tell whether there is something behind the negative slant and spin about Malaysia’s stand on refugees, what with APEC summit coming at the end of the year.

After Najib was treated disrespectfully, now its the turn of Muhyiddin though not in person.

Both are Malaysia’s experience leaders. Both Malays and Muslims.

It feels, just like Western owned news stations which promote West’s interest, Al-Jazeera is following the same. But, whose interest?  – BACALAHMALAYSIA.MY

 

  • The writer is an experienced analyst and media practitioner of nearly 30 years in the industry.

 

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of BACALAHMALAYSIA.MY)

BacalahMalaysia Team

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