Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak has launched a broadside on The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), saying the US-based publication should submit candidates for the next general election in Malaysia.
Salleh said this is because of WSJ’s strong interest and inclination in Malaysian political affairs.
“They are behaving like politicians and campaigners, not credible or independent media,” he added in a blog posting.
According to Salleh, WSJ’s stories do not even contain new information, as the publication merely repeats and repackages unproven allegations.
“They never do anything to justify these smears, beyond quoting anonymous sources and documents that - mysteriously - only the WSJ claims to have spoken to and seen.
“These may not exist, or they could originate from political opponents and be incomplete or wrong.
“The WSJ's Malaysia coverage has become desperate and obsessive. It has abandoned the fact-based principles of independent journalism to become nothing better than a partisan blog - the willing vehicle of politically motivated forces,” he said.
Salleh, who is also Umno treasurer-general, claimed that WSJ and those “feeding on it for their own selfish objectives”, such as Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his proxies, seek to influence Malaysia's political process and dictate who should form the government.
“Their continuous onslaught is not about journalism, but about forcing their own arrogant and misguided vision onto Malaysia. If we submit, our harmonious, stable and prosperous majority-Muslim state would be eroded,” he cautioned.
However, Salleh pointed out that the days of 'might is right' and having to obey colonial masters are over.
“We will bend to no one, especially neocon media like the WSJ, which pushed for the disastrous foreign interventions in Muslim countries such as Iraq. It is partly responsible for opening up a Pandora's Box of death, destruction and instability.
“Malaysians know better how to govern ourselves and maintain stability.
“We will ensure that only Malaysians decide our country's future, and at the ballot box as part of democratic process,” he added.
