Singapore’s Channel NewsAsia ( CNA ) has rebutted a minister’s claimed that its programme ‘A Fractured Nation’ featured only opposition sources and was one sided.
The programme that took a critical look at the red shirts rally as indicative that Prime Minister Najib Razak’s camp was playing the racial card to keep him in power was taken off transmission in Malaysia yesterday.
“Contrary to the Bernama report quoting Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak, CNA did not interview any opposition parties in Malaysia,” said the programme’s executive producer Zainudin Afandi in a rebuttal on the channel’s website last night.
“ CNA interviewed the organiser of Bersih 4, Maria Chin Abdullah, who is not a member of the opposition. We believe that her views provided insight and balance to the story.
“The programme also interviewed the organiser of the red shirt rally, Umno divisional chief Jamal Md Yunos.
“We also aired the views of the former Malacca chief minister and Umno supreme council member Mohd Ali Rustam,” Mr Zainudin added.
'No opposition interviewed'
Zainudin said the feature was part of its regular Insight programme, a long-running award-winning current affairs series.
'A Fractured Nation' was the sixth in its coverage of political developments in Malaysia since April.
The programme, he said, also featured political analysts assistant professor of International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) Maszlee Malik, deputy director of Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (Iseas) Ooi Kee Beng and Merdeka Centre director Ibrahim Suffian.
"As observers, they spoke from an objective and unbiased standpoint," he said.
Salleh had criticised the documentary in a blog post yesterday, calling it one-sided and biassed.
"The report is clearly one-sided because it only highlights negative things about Malaysia, and CNA interviewed only those who are members of the opposition.
"This report clearly shows that they have a point of view or angle to hurt our country," he had said.
Zainudin said CNA would be happy to have Salleh present his side of the story on their programme.
“ CNA would welcome the opportunity to interview Salleh on the situation in Malaysia, which has generated interest internationally,” he said.
