Hata Wahari explains NUJ statement

Down with the flu, too tired to post. This is from MI. Thomas Lee’s disgusting self-serving piece of self-promotion isn’t worth talking about. That’s the third time he’s flogged that piece.

---

Journalists union maintains newspapers must be politically impartial
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/journalists-union-maintains-newspapers-must-be-politically-impartial/
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
September 22, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 – Newly minted National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ) president Hata Wahari today defended his position in accusing Umno daily Utusan Malaysia of practising a “partisan” approach to reporting, saying that he had a responsibility to ensure that proper journalistic ethics were practised by all newspapers in the country.

Hata had, in a statement yesterday cited the dispute between Utusan and political leaders from Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) as an example of partisan reporting.

The NUJ president claimed that the union regretted this, saying that it did not benefit the Malay daily, its reporters or journalism, in a thinly-veiled reference to Utusan’s attacking Minister in the Prime Minister’s department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz over his critique of Malay rights group Perkasa.

This in turn led to Perkasa supreme council member Mohd Zahid Md Arip accusing Hata of being a pro-Pakatan Rakyat supporter today, in a news report published by Utusan.

“The National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ) is a non-partisan, independent organisation. It is an organisation which protects 1,335 members who are currently working in eight newspaper companies, directly and indirectly protects and defends the rights of newspaper editors.

“NUJ Malaysia is an organisation which upholds the ethics of journalism to ensure that journalists are able to perform their duties professionally and reject any form of partisan reporting so as to enable accurate and concise reporting. As NUJ president, I will uphold all of the principles that I have mentioned, and I am taking a stand to fight for more than just ethical reporting,” said Hata in a statement today.

The NUJ president, who coincidentally is an Utusan journalist dismissed Zahid’s claims of him being pro-opposition, saying that the Perkasa member’s statement was “illogical” and “irrelevant”.

“The statement released by Perkasa supreme council member Mohd Zahid Md Arif is something that is illogical and irrelevant. I am a professional journalist and have been working for Utusan for more than 15 years. Being in charge of a professional organisation like NUJ means that we should be impartial and not take sides with anyone.

“My advice to Perkasa is take care of its own members, conduct your duties responsibly, Perkasa should also be impartial. Zahid’s remarks shows that Perkasa is partisan, and is definitely supporting Barisan Nasional,” said Hata.

In the Utusan report today, Zahid claimed that Hata was an opposition supporter because of his earlier statement against Utusan.

But Hata maintained that newspapers had to be independent from the influences of any political party, be it BN or PR.

“Utusan in the beginning of its formation before 1961 was a newspaper which played a pivotal role in championing the spirit of nationalism, it was progressive and liberal and free from any political influences. As a reporter, I support the principles set forth by the founders of Utusan which were never politically motivated,” said Hata