YOURSAY 'If the GLCs (government-linked companies) advertise in Utusan or Berita Harian, then we will boycott these GLCs.'

Gov't orders GLCs to buy more ads on Utusan, BH

Ferdtan: Let me give a brief marketing lesson on advertisement to our esteemed Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan even though I am not a qualified marketing executive.

Why do companies advertise? If the company is selling products, it is to reach a lot more people through advertisement by promoting its products. It also draws attention to its given products advertised. The aim is to increase sales. Thus its market share will increase. The constant advertisements also develop brand loyalty.

In the first place, to advertise in the rapidly-reduced readers' mainstream media like Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian is not only outdated but also not cost effective. There is no value for money if GLCs (government-linked companies) were to advertise here.

Has Ahmad Maslan not heard of the latest trend in advertising through online media like popular social media (Facebook, YouTube) and alternative news websites such as Malaysiakini?

The easy reach to millions of readers (read: customers) are there to benefit the advertisers. Is Maslan asking for 'donations' for the two main Umno-linked newspapers when there is no added value for the expenses?

This is irresponsible of the minister to use public fund by asking GLCs to throw away good money to save the sorry financial state of affairs in both the Malay dallies.

Ahmad Maslan also stated that we must take into account the struggle of Utusan and Berita Harian for this country. What? This is business. If they cannot run the companies well and before they go bankrupt, ask them to surrender the limited, restricted and privileged printing licences to Malaysiakini who had to go to court to fight for one.

Hang Tuah PJ: Ferdtan, you took the very words out of my mouth. I too wanted to give a lesson on advertising to Ahmad Mazlan. And the main intent of a newspaper should be ethical journalism and not making money through advertisements. What the heck, it will be a waste of my time.

Tehachapi: When we have low calibre character like this as deputy minister of finance, we should be prepared for hard times no long from now. Imagine that it has become the responsibility of a deputy minister to personally instruct all GLCs to advertise in the two low quality Malay language newspapers to keep them alive.

If this is done for newspapers, how many other letters are sent out to support all sorts of projects in the name of protecting the Malays. As a citizen of this country, I would like to know how much time does this deputy minister spend in helping the nation and all the people of this country regardless of their political affiliation, race, religion, language, or colour.

I am more and more convinced that the Umno ministers are only serving the vested interests rather than the common good of the nation. With ministers like this in positions of power, the nation will only become weaker and the people more divided than ever. This sort of partisan behaviour will ruin us quick.

Oh Ya?: This is a gross abuse of power and it goes to show that the ruling elite really think this country belongs to their fathers and that the taxpayers' money is theirs to be used at their whims and fancy.

Old Timer: Why waste hard-earned taxpayers' money on struggling newspapers that can't report facts, but lies and lies?

If Umno top guys and Ahmad Maslan are so keen to keep them floating, use your own money to advertise. The taxpayers' money is not yours to spend as you wish.

Swipenter: This exactly why the NEP failed and only served to benefit a section of the Malay/bumiputera community.

Even 'toilet' newspapers especially Utusan, which have been found guilty of printing lies numerous times by the court, is directed by the Umno Baru-dominated government to be supported by GLCs much like those undeserving Malays/bumiputeras abusing and living off their special privileges under the cover of the NEP.

Umno Baru is all about themselves and not national interests. That is why Umno Baru is the biggest threat to national security, national unity, optimum progress and economic development and even our sovereignty.

Geronimo: If the GLCs advertise in Utusan or Berita Harian, then we will boycott these GLCs. To the GLCs, pick your choice, Utusan or the rakyat. As George Bush Jr would say, "If you are not with us, then you are against us." Comprende?

Slumdog: The government has already ransacked pension funds, now Umno wants to get its claws on government-linked companies' funds. Ahmad Maslan has come up with some pathetic and baseless excuses for GLCs to advertise in Utusan and Berita Harian.

When Umno politicians don't have an intelligent or convincing argument, the old and worn out excuses is always about protecting Malay rights, their struggles, their sensitivities, their extinction and attacks from unknown sources, is brought up.

This time it is the struggle of Utusan and Berita Harian. What struggle? Doesn't he see this as a gross conflict of interest and an abuse of power by instructing GLCs to advertise more in the two Malay newspapers?

Multi Racial: There is problem with these Umno politicians. Firstly, they cannot differentiate between government-owned and party-owned enterprises. If it's government owned, everything is funded from taxpayers' money.

How dare he direct GLC to back a newspaper that has offended more than 50 percent of the voters. How dare he abuse his capacity as deputy finance minister to direct GLCs to support Umno-owned media? He should be investigated for abuse and wasted of public money.

As a Malaysian, I strongly oppose to give anything to a media that divide the people and cause so much disruption to the nation. Shame on Ahmad Maslan.

Quigonbond: Ahmad Maslan is clearly abusing power. He is a federal minister, getting paid good salary from government coffers using taxpayers' money. There are both Umno and non-Umno supporters who are taxpayers.

Unless Ahmad Maslan can segregate taxes from supporters or non-supporters, he has no business implementing a policy that is patently biased to Umno.

GLCs are the same. They receive or have previously received financial assistance from the federal government, which the federal government pays from taxes. Unless they can distinguish between financial assistance coming from an Umno-supporting source, all their profits are made from indistinguishable source of financial assistance.

They have no business advertising in only pro-Umno media. For that matter, they should eschew Utusan since the whole idea of advertising is to reach out to as many people as possible, and Utusan clearly fails this test with its dwindling circulation.

Ipohcrite: Utusan is a racist paper bent on undermining the racial harmony of this nation to serve its political masters, even to the detriment of the rakyat and the nation's future. It has no business masquerading as a newspaper but in truth, serves only as a propaganda mouthpiece for Umno extremists.

Personally, I will not support Utusan and I also will not support those who advertise with Utusan. Unless, of course, Utusan changes its racist ways, which I very much doubt.

Samurai: Utusan struggle? Its only struggle is to channel public funds into Umno's own pockets using government advertising, and as a fringe benefit, Umno can use it to brainwash the Malays and run down its enemies.

Shibboleth: Why make it so difficult? Just order the GLCs to give some money to Utusan. Of course, the minority shareholders of GLCs may object. But the CEOs of these GLCs can tell them to sell their shares and emigrate.

Fairnessforall: And why advertise in a paper fit for the trash that only idiots read. Advertising in Utusan is like winking at a girl in the dark. Now one knows, only the idiots themselves.

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