Khairy said what?!
I found this rare gem published in Mkini back in 2006. This is an excerpt from an article on the launch of Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information Associate Professor Dr Cherian George’s book entitled Contentious Journalism and the Internet: Towards Democratic Discourse in Malaysia and Singapore the same year.
Read and be amused.
George’s book features one chapter specifically on malaysiakini in which fast rising Umno Youth politician Khairy Jamaluddin was interviewed on his views on the media organisation.
The interview was done in 2002 when Khairy was special assistant to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (at that time deputy premier).
Khairy was quoted as saying that he would usually tell Abdullah’s press secretary to grant access to malaysiakini reporters covering official functions.
(Malaysiakini reporters have been denied accreditation press tags issued by the Information Ministry as the government argues that the online daily does not have a media licence due to its nature of being an Internet-based daily).
However, while malaysiakini’s existence is tolerated, Khairy said: “It doesn’t mean we like them or have to make life easy for them.”
Khairy continues: “We read malaysiakini, but decided that we couldn’t do anything about it. Now, you’re seeing a process of natural selection. Malaysiakini has been dying.
“It’s moved to a subscription model and it’s fighting for its survival. I’m glad we didn’t do anything to close down the site. The market may do it for us,” Khairy said.
In the words of Alanis Morrissette, “Isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?”
It’s like raiiiiiiiin …. on Khairy’s head
It’s a free riiiide …. until Umno’s dead
It’s the good adviiiiice …. that Barisan just didn’t take
Whooo would’ve thooought …. kangtoilah abuthen?
lol.
Hurrah it’s Monday!
May 12th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Hmm… you dug that out from 2006…. Interesting…
But of what relevance is it as of now?
May 12th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
alamak, i forgot to add …. malaysiakini still lives! lol. sorry for the gap in thoughts! :)
May 12th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
khairy who?
the richest unemployed in the world, thats who! lol..
hidup malaysiakini!.
May 12th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Not only has the market “not closed down malaysiakini for them”, the market has in fact elevated malaysiakini to another level.
So in fact the “natural selection process” that he has mentioned is more applicable to BN - it’s slowly bleeding and eventually (hopefully!) dying from its racial politics. Using his language, the market (the people of Malaysia) will close down BN for us.
May 12th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Hey I signed up! One more to help you fight, if you all need to fight.
May 13th, 2008 at 3:01 am
HAHAHAHA i’ll never listen to alanis the same way again
May 13th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
This is definitely my read of the day. :)
May 14th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Sis, sorry to use your blog to make my issue known.
I am so happy I voted for PAKATAN RAKYAT. BN is good at wasting money and enriching themselves. Recently, my son who scored straight 10A1 was rejected a PSD scholarship. Hello, Pak Dollah wake up lah, ini modal insan that you been talking about. Well then again you only talk never walk the talk. Sad really sad. Dissappointed indian, Makkal Sakti, Makkal Sakti,Makkal Sakti
May 15th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I’m sceptical that by you voting for PR, that would solve the PSD issue. Easier said then done i suppose.